Drexel University - Spartan Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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COMFORTABLY SEATED students with a flair for art are a familiar sight around the Great Court. PARTICIPATION IS at a premium in this experiment conducted by students of electrical engineering. DEDICATED THIS past Founder's Day, the new library has been long awaited by members of the Library, the faculty, Library School staff, and the students. Harmonizing with the new basic science building, this three story structure successfully blends beauty with utility. I3

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EVIIJENBES 0F GRUWTH Since its founding in 1891, Drexel Institute has continually striven to expand its physical facilities. Begun in 1889 and completed in 1891, the main building was at one time our entire campus. East Hall was erected and memorialized as Randall Hall in 1902. The apparent need for an engineering building was satisfied hy the erection of Curtis Hall, named in honor of its donor, Cyrus H. K. Curtis. A major step in the expansion program was construction of the Sarah Drexel Van Rensselaer Dormitory for women in 1931. Realizing the continued on page 14 THE BASIC SCIENCE CENTER, erected in 1955 and housing all laboratories for physics chemistry, and the biological sciences, was the first of a series of new buildings neces sitated by the Institute's continuing development. CONSTRUCTION OF THE MAIN BUILDING in classic Renaissance architecture began in 1889. It was completed in 1891, and the dedication ceremonies on December 17 were witnessed by Levi P. Morton, Vice-President of the United States, John Wanamaker Postmaster General, and Governor Patterson of Pennsylvania. ,,...... -ef

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need for a recreation center, Mr. A. J. Drexel Paul, grandson of the Founder, purchased a site for the Drexel Lodge, which was formally dedicated on May 2, 1931. Throughout the years 1932-1941 equipment and apparatus were added to all divisions of the Institute. During 1937 a fifth story contain- ing nine classrooms was added to Curtis Hall. More recently, the Lancaster Annex building was pur- chased and converted to classrooms for engineering courses. This occurred in 1946. It is interesting to note the acquisi- tion of seven quonset huts from the federal government in 1947. At present, but two of these remain, yet all were used for classrooms until 1949. The same year also saw the pur- chase of eighteen acres for athletic facilities at 42 Street and Haverford Avenue. Some of t-his land had been used by Drexel since 1926. The ever increasing enrollment required still more class- rooms. Consequently, the engineering building adjoining the main building was erected in 1950, after an alumni fund raising drive. In 1952 the 21st District Police Station was purchased for both the mechanical engineering and the R.O.T.C. Departments. Also purchased were the buildings housing the English Department oHices and Director of Athletics. May of 1953 marked the conversion of the 1nen's grill to a modern cafeteria in Randall Hall. Land west of 32nd Street was acquired for the Basic Science Building, whose comple- tion was achieved in 1955. After a granary explosion in March, 1956, the student union building was moved to its present site, and the granary lot converted into a student parking area. The present mathematics office building was purchased in 1956. During the years 1955-1958 new pieces of land were attained for the next phase of Drexel's expan- sion-the Library Center, opened this year. Other lands are now in the process of being acquired and developed as a result of Drexel's never ceasing drive to expand its facilities. THE WOODLAND ANNEX is the nerve center for the ROTC program at Drexel. Originally a. police station, it was converted upon purchase to classrooms and offices for use by the military. THE LANCASTER AVENUE ANNEX was acquired by Drexel in 1945 and has since seen much use. Located at 35th Street and Lancaster Avenue, it is used primarily by the engineering school. A RECENT CONTRIBUTION to the College of Home Eco- nomics, the Nan Duskin Laboratories afford the students a chance to apply many techniques taught in class. The labs are not only practical but also serve 'to enhance the appear- ance of the second floor of the Main Building. THE STUDENT UNION BUILDINGS see more activity than do most of the other buildings. Here are found the offices of the various publications and student organizations, recreation rooms, a barber shop, and cafeteria.