Celebrating campus landmarks

Some of the most iconic buildings on campus are marking anniversaries in 2023.

1853: 170 years
Old Sem 

Cornell’s original building has served many purposes. In the beginning it was multipurpose—housing students, faculty, classrooms, a kitchen, and chapel. After serving for more than 30 years as a boarding hall and classroom building, the Seminary Building (Cornell was founded as the Iowa Conference Seminary) was in need of renovation; hence the nickname “Old Sem.” In 1892, a mansard roof was added to create a fourth floor for art studios. After the fire of 1924 left only the masonry walls, Old Sem was rebuilt in its original style. It has housed administrative offices for decades.

1873: 150 years
South Hall

South Hall, which was once the southernmost building on campus, opened as the Cornell Boarding Association Hall for men in 1873. But dorm life proved less appealing than that of the rooming houses near campus, and the building was gradually converted for academic use. It was renovated in 1981 and houses the politics and English departments. For a period prior to 1906, Cornell’s Music Conservatory was housed there, and the building was often referred to as Conservatory Hall. 

1883: 140 years
Scott Alumni Center at Rood House

Originally known as Rood House, this building was three separate houses joined into what was traditionally, but not exclusively, a women’s residence. The last students moved out in January 2007. The north house was removed and the remaining structure renovated for the offices of Alumni and College Advancement. Richard Small ’50 and Honorary Alumna Norma Thomas Small provided lead funding for the project in honor of Paul K. Scott ’29, who was alumni director (1954-76) and coached Cornell’s 1947 NCAA championship wrestling team. The original house was the residence of Col. Henry H. Rood, a local merchant, member of Cornell’s Board of Trustees, and treasurer of the college. It was designed by Cass Chapman, the architect for King Chapel and Bowman-Carter Hall. The house was a gift from the Class of 1894 in celebration of their 25th class reunion.

1938: 85 years
Armstrong Hall of Fine Arts

Armstrong was the gift of Blanche Swingley Armstrong, Class of 1891, and one of the first two women to be appointed to Cornell’s Board of Trustees. It was reputed to be the first U.S. structure to house music, art, and theater. During a major renovation in 2002–2003 a companion building, Youngker Hall (housing Kimmel Theatre), was built contiguous to Armstrong, and the art department moved to McWethy Hall. 

1953: 70 years
Field House

Today’s Richard and Norma Small Athletic and Wellness Center—the SAW—is built around, and incorporates, the former Field House, a project of Cornell’s centennial. In November of 1953 the college held a birthday dinner in the Field House, followed by the American Broadcasting Company staging its popular weekly radio program “America’s Town Meeting of the Air” to a national audience.

1963: 60 years
Dows Hall

Originally a residence hall for first-year women and now co-ed, Dows was named in honor of Sutherland C. Dows Sr., a member of the Board of Trustees from 1932 to 1969 and its president for almost 20 years, and his wife Frances. It was renovated in 2015 and features a demonstration kitchen and an aerobics room.

1963: 60 years
Pauley Hall

Pauley opened in 1963 and was joined by Rorem in 1966. Pauley is named for Clarence O. Pauley, Class of 1901, a member of the Board of Trustees from 1944 to 1964, and his wife, Maude Strobel Pauley, Class of 1903. It was a men’s residence until 1971 when an exchange took place between Tarr Hall and Pauley to bring women to the west end of the campus and men to the center. From 1976–1989 Pauley was the Women’s Academic Residence, a counterpart to the Men’s Academic Residence in Rorem Hall from 1977–1984. Pauley was renovated in 2015 and now houses first-year students.

2018: 5 years
Russell Science Center

Cornell’s newest building, and the first academic building designed for the block plan, houses chemistry and biology. It was the centerpiece of the $35 million Science Facilities Project, part of the Greater>Than campaign. Jean Russell ’65, a researcher who has made important discoveries about bone disease, kicked off the campaign with a $20 million donation, the largest cash gift in college history. The building’s lounges and atriums have some of the best views on campus.