Mendenhall Laboratory

Herrick Archives Number 054

A. IDENTIFICATION & LOCATION

1. Name

1.1 Officially named "The Mendenhall Laboratory" by Board of Trustees on April 4, 1925, in honor of Dr. T. C. Mendenhall.

1.2 Alternate names noted:

Built as the "Physics Building".

See Addenda Nos. 2, 3, 5

2. Location

2.1 Located at 125 South Oval Drive. See map below.

See Addendum No. 1

2.2 For greater detail, see Sheets 97 and 98 in the book of campus maps in the University Archives.

For identification of other buildings shown, see Appendix A.

3. General Description

3.1 Type of construction:

Center section is wood frame with brick exterior. Wings have reinforced concrete frame with brick exterior.

3.2 No. of stories:

Basement and four floors.

3.3 Increments of construction:

Built in three sections. See sketch.

A--original building C A B
B--east wing
C--west wing

3. 4 Present area of building as shown in inventory records of Division of Campus Planning:

82,120 sq. ft. gross; 53,156 sq. ft. net assignable

See Addendum No. 4

3. 5 Volume of building:

1,150,000 cubic feet (PP)

B. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION—ORIGINAL CONSTRUCTION

1. On August 15, 1903 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by Peters, Burns, and Pretzinger and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.

2. Bids were opened on November 7, 1903 and all were rejected (T).

3. New bids were opened on December 21, 1903 (T).

4. On December 21, 1903 the Board of Trustees awarded the construction contract to D. W. McGrath.

5. Completion and occupancy:

5.1 The building was accepted by the Board of Trustees on June 21, 1905 as completed.

5.2 The Lantern on April 5, 1905 reported that the building "was dedicated" by holding final examinations in it on March 28, 1905.

C. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION—EAST WING

1. On March 19, 1914 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by Joseph N. Bradford and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.

2. Bids were received on April 21, 1914 (T).

3. On April 21, 1914 the Board of Trustees awarded contracts to the following contractors:

General: Dawson Construction Co.
Heating, ventilating, plumbing & gas fitting: William H. Conklin Co.

4. Completion and occupancy:

The University Architect reported to the Board of Trustees on November 6, 1914 that the east wing had been completed (T).

D. PLANNING & CONSTRUCTION—WEST WING

1. On September 13, 1921 the Board of Trustees approved the plans and related documents prepared by Joseph N. Bradford and authorized the solicitation of bids by contractors.

2. On November 19, 1921 the Board of Trustees awarded contracts to the following contractors:

General: E. Elford
Electrical: Hughes Peters Electric Co.
Heating & ventilating: Huffman-Wolfe Co.
Plumbing: Huffman-Wolfe Co.

3. Beginning of work:

3.1 Excavation reported to be under way on January 10, 1922 (T 1/10/22).

3.2 Concrete and masonry completed through two floors in late May 1922 (T 5/26/22).

4. Completion and occupancy

4.1 Accepted from contractor on February 8, 1923.

4.2 The Lantern reported on October 24, 1922 that the building would open on November 1.

4.3 Final estimates were dated December 4, 1922 (A).

E. COST

1. The cost of the original building is reported at $80,000 (McC 2:288 and B 1909-10).

2. The Emergency Board allowed $40,000 for the east wing (T 3/19/14). University Architect's records show $41,627.44 as the cost of this wing.

3. Cost of the west wing was $78,331.96 (A).

4. The June 30, 1971 Business Office report lists the building at $493,578.19.

F. MISCELLANEOUS

1. At first this building was to go northwest of Hayes, and later it was destined to go northeast of Hayes. The final location was set by the Board of Trustees on August 15, 1903.

2. The east wing was built to replace the English Building (H117), which burned on March 8, 1914 (T 3/9/14).

3. The building was remodeled under contracts awarded in August and September of 1929. The nature of the remodeling has not been investigated.

G. PHOTOGRAPHS

1. In Photoarchives:

X 1751--original building nearing completion
X 7642--original building plus east wing
X 7643--completed building with both wings

2. Others:

Hooper: 156
McC 2: 81 original section only
McC 4: 26

John H. Herrick

April 13, 1972

ADDENDUM NO. 1

Address

In June, 1975 the address was changed to 125 South Oval Mall.

John H. Herrick

December 2, 1975

ADDENDUM NO. 2

Professor Chubb in an article in the April 1910 issue of the Alumni Quarterly (now Monthly) refers to this building as "Physics Hall."

John H. Herrick

May 24, 1979

ADDENDUM NO. 3

The following additional name for this building has been found on old campus maps:

Mendhenhall Laboratory of Physics

John H. Herrick

September 21, 1981

ADDENDUM NO. 4

Campus Planning records now show the following areas for this building:

82,698 sq. ft. gross
53,791 sq. ft. net assignable

John H. Herrick

February 7, 1985

ADDENDUM NO. 5

This building is now carried in Campus Planning records as Thomas C. Mendenhall Laboratory. The official name remains "The Mendenhall Laboratory."

John H. Herrick

August 26, 1986