Historic Resource Survey Form : Peterson Hall

5 pagesPeterson Hall, formerly known as the Education Building, is a brick, Mediterranean style building constructed in 1916. It was designed along with Gilbert Hall, formerly known as the Commerce Building, to be twin “entry pylons” for the Memorial Quadrangle. Lawrence designed primary campus buildings such as Peterson and Gilbert in exotic styles, as seen in his other works on Memorial Quad, while he reserved the Colonial Revival style for secondary buildings (Education East, Education West, Women’s Memorial Quad buildings). Peterson was also Lawrence’s first building to be built on campus. These two buildings, along with Condon and Chapman Halls, Knight Library and the Museum of Art, form the major group of campus buildings of Lawrence’s career. Peterson was built to house the School of Education, which began in 1910 and was the university’s fourth professional school. Peterson Hall housed the School of Education for five years before it was relocated to Lawrence’s new Education Building in 1921. Peterson Hall next housed the Law School until it moved to Fenton Hall. Peterson then became the center of the Liberal Arts College housing the department of languages and social studies. Circa 1951 there was a large addition to both Peterson and Gilbert Halls. The ensemble became known as the Commonwealth Complex. (The Commonwealth Building was later completely razed for construction of the new Lillis Business Complex.) The early 1950s held many alterations for Peterson (Education) and Gilbert. The Commonwealth addition obstructed the Dads’ Gates Axis originally intended by Ellis Lawrence and caused a need to elevate the grade of the courtyard. The first flight of Gilbert and Peterson’s entry stairs was removed to meet the level of the new re-grade. The most startling alteration was the truncation, or flattening, of the gabled parapets on their entry façades. The Yellow Buckeye tree in the courtyard was received from the governor of Ohio and Ohio State University in 1958 as the result of a bet on that year’s Rose Bowl game between Ohio State and Oregon