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| CNU Administration Building, June 2013 |
[This article originally appeared in a late April 2013 edition of The Captain's Log, Christopher Newport University's student-run newspaper. Enjoy this blast to the past!]
A Farewell to Admin
By A.J. Jelonek
It’s been nicknamed “The Power Tower” by those who work in it. An old issue of the Captain’s Log from the 80’s nicknamed it “Windsor Palace,” after the school’s 2nd president who pushed for the building. In more recent times, many have called it ugly. But it has always been CNU’s singular Administration Building.
This summer, the Admin Building will become the last major building of old campus to be demolished for the 2015 campus plan. With its imminent demolition close by, we look back on the place where important decisions were debated and decided.
Before the Admin Building was built, administration services were held in a wing of the Captain John Smith Library. By the mid-70’s, there was a need for more office space on campus. Campus had the infamous “Windsor classrooms,” 12 trailers for classrooms and offices, approximately where the old Science Building was and Forbes Hall’s Phase II expansion is now.
“They were dreadful,” recalls Dr. Mario Mazzarella, a longtime professor here. “There were four offices in one of those trailers. The walls were so thin that I used to joke that if someone sneezed in one end, you’d say ‘Gesundheit’ at the other end.”
The college had recently gained independence from William and Mary, and took the opportunity to have its first major campus expansion projects since the original buildings were built.
On May 8, 1979, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new administration building was held. The Virginia State Governor John N. Dalton was in attendance. It was designed by Forrest Coile and Associates, the architectural firm of all the original buildings on campus.
The building officially opened in December 1980. One major difference from today’s building is the third floor was originally comprised of offices for professors.
When it was built, it was the tallest building on campus. It tied in height in 2005 with the Ferguson Center’s Tower and was finally surpassed by the Trible Library in 2008.
What exactly is its architectural style? Our University Architects are not even sure. The closest match would be Utilitarian. “Some people seem to find it very unattractive; I think it just looks okay myself. I’ve seen worse,” says Mazzerella.
Soon after it was built, there was a plan to build an outdoor stage connected to the side of the building now facing the Great Lawn. It could have been used for performances to commencement exercises. These plan did not come to fruition, so the space was kept open.
Many parts of the building were dedicated over the years. In the mid-80’s, the auditorium on the first floor was named Anderson Auditorium, after the school’s third president, John W. Anderson (1980-1986). On September 15, 1993, the Barclay Sheaks Gallery was dedicated on the 4th floor. Sheaks was a famous local artist who donated a few of his pieces to show his support to the university.
In 2000, the building was the setting of a protest. Teachers and students rallied together when they heard two graduate courses were planned to be cut. As part of the protest, students held a sit-in in the building’s lobby. A compromise regarding the courses was eventually reached.
For the most part through its life, the admin building wasn’t a setting for events. “It’s not a place where big campus events occur,” says Mazzarella. “It was built and served a particular purpose. It’s an office building.”
“It’s a work-a-day administrative building,” explains Dr. Santoro, the school’s 4th president (1987-1996). “Everybody gets there pretty much at 8 o’clock and stays till beyond the closing. That’s a workaholic building, and still is.”
The building has evolved with the times. Different departments have moved in and out. When the building first opened, computers were not as widespread as they are today. Registering for classes meant standing in lines at the Registrar with you and your 4,000 classmates.
With campus building rapidly around it, its utilitarian architecture became a sore thumb to many. Plans were proposed to renovate the building to fit its Georgian neighbors. In the end, it was decided to build a completely new building.
The current building’s demolition will take place in June. The new building, dubbed the Student Success Center, is scheduled to open Spring 2015.
While the old building falls and the new building rises, administration services will be temporarily shuffled around campus to Gosnold, the CNU SunTrust Building, McMurran, and the Library. Some departments, such as Alumni Relations and Admissions, have already moved out to Ratcliffe and the DSU, respectively.
Many of the beautiful pieces of art and campus heirlooms currently held within the building will be kept safe as well. Many items, such as the Virginia state seals above the building’s entrances, will be put into storage for future use. Others, like the School Mace, will be displayed elsewhere on campus (The Mace will be displayed in the President’s Office in the Library).
Like the Gaines Theater before it, the name Anderson will be reused. The lecture hall in the Luter Building will be named the Anderson Lecture Hall.
The Administration Building did its duty to a campus that needed it. It helped CNC and CNU run efficiently for almost 33 years. So we say farewell to the Admin Building. Thank you.
It’s been nicknamed “The Power Tower” by those who work in it. An old issue of the Captain’s Log from the 80’s nicknamed it “Windsor Palace,” after the school’s 2nd president who pushed for the building. In more recent times, many have called it ugly. But it has always been CNU’s singular Administration Building.
This summer, the Admin Building will become the last major building of old campus to be demolished for the 2015 campus plan. With its imminent demolition close by, we look back on the place where important decisions were debated and decided.
Before the Admin Building was built, administration services were held in a wing of the Captain John Smith Library. By the mid-70’s, there was a need for more office space on campus. Campus had the infamous “Windsor classrooms,” 12 trailers for classrooms and offices, approximately where the old Science Building was and Forbes Hall’s Phase II expansion is now.
“They were dreadful,” recalls Dr. Mario Mazzarella, a longtime professor here. “There were four offices in one of those trailers. The walls were so thin that I used to joke that if someone sneezed in one end, you’d say ‘Gesundheit’ at the other end.”
The college had recently gained independence from William and Mary, and took the opportunity to have its first major campus expansion projects since the original buildings were built.
On May 8, 1979, a groundbreaking ceremony for the new administration building was held. The Virginia State Governor John N. Dalton was in attendance. It was designed by Forrest Coile and Associates, the architectural firm of all the original buildings on campus.
The building officially opened in December 1980. One major difference from today’s building is the third floor was originally comprised of offices for professors.
When it was built, it was the tallest building on campus. It tied in height in 2005 with the Ferguson Center’s Tower and was finally surpassed by the Trible Library in 2008.
What exactly is its architectural style? Our University Architects are not even sure. The closest match would be Utilitarian. “Some people seem to find it very unattractive; I think it just looks okay myself. I’ve seen worse,” says Mazzerella.
Soon after it was built, there was a plan to build an outdoor stage connected to the side of the building now facing the Great Lawn. It could have been used for performances to commencement exercises. These plan did not come to fruition, so the space was kept open.
Many parts of the building were dedicated over the years. In the mid-80’s, the auditorium on the first floor was named Anderson Auditorium, after the school’s third president, John W. Anderson (1980-1986). On September 15, 1993, the Barclay Sheaks Gallery was dedicated on the 4th floor. Sheaks was a famous local artist who donated a few of his pieces to show his support to the university.
In 2000, the building was the setting of a protest. Teachers and students rallied together when they heard two graduate courses were planned to be cut. As part of the protest, students held a sit-in in the building’s lobby. A compromise regarding the courses was eventually reached.
For the most part through its life, the admin building wasn’t a setting for events. “It’s not a place where big campus events occur,” says Mazzarella. “It was built and served a particular purpose. It’s an office building.”
“It’s a work-a-day administrative building,” explains Dr. Santoro, the school’s 4th president (1987-1996). “Everybody gets there pretty much at 8 o’clock and stays till beyond the closing. That’s a workaholic building, and still is.”
The building has evolved with the times. Different departments have moved in and out. When the building first opened, computers were not as widespread as they are today. Registering for classes meant standing in lines at the Registrar with you and your 4,000 classmates.
With campus building rapidly around it, its utilitarian architecture became a sore thumb to many. Plans were proposed to renovate the building to fit its Georgian neighbors. In the end, it was decided to build a completely new building.
The current building’s demolition will take place in June. The new building, dubbed the Student Success Center, is scheduled to open Spring 2015.
While the old building falls and the new building rises, administration services will be temporarily shuffled around campus to Gosnold, the CNU SunTrust Building, McMurran, and the Library. Some departments, such as Alumni Relations and Admissions, have already moved out to Ratcliffe and the DSU, respectively.
Many of the beautiful pieces of art and campus heirlooms currently held within the building will be kept safe as well. Many items, such as the Virginia state seals above the building’s entrances, will be put into storage for future use. Others, like the School Mace, will be displayed elsewhere on campus (The Mace will be displayed in the President’s Office in the Library).
Like the Gaines Theater before it, the name Anderson will be reused. The lecture hall in the Luter Building will be named the Anderson Lecture Hall.
The Administration Building did its duty to a campus that needed it. It helped CNC and CNU run efficiently for almost 33 years. So we say farewell to the Admin Building. Thank you.
[Since this article was written:
- Demolition work on the Administration Building did begin in June 2013. It was completely leveled by the end of August.
- The Student Success Center's official name became Christopher Newport Hall. The exterior was completed Spring 2015, right in time to be the backdrop for Spring Commencement. The interior would be move-in ready later that summer.
- The Barclay Sheaks Gallery is now located in the Trible Library
- The school's mace is now prominently displayed in the Alumni House
- The Virginia seals are still in storage
-Luter's lecture hall was ceremoniously renamed the Anderson Lecture Hall in January 2021.]
