Texas Tech University - La Ventana Yearbook (Lubbock, TX)

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Electrical Engineering Elect rical Engineering Campus Architecture — 17

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The Rest Of The Story What do those red bricks mean? At the turn of the century when the United States was industriaHzing, ex- panding and educating, it was customary for architects and builders to choose a style of architecture for building sites. On November 22, 1923, when Texas Technological College was founded, uni- versity president Dr. Paul Whitfield Horn made William Ward Watkin first choice as architect of the construction project. Watkin was assigned to the master planning and design phases due to his influential design work at Rice Universi- ty and affiliation with a well-known engi- neering firm in Boston. But Watkin was engaged in the design of buildings at Rice, and the job was assumed by Sanguinet, Staats and Hedrick, one of the largest architectural and engineering firms in Texas at that time. When the time came to decide what style to use on the building sites, Watkin suggested a Spanish style due to the Spanish missions once alive in Texas and the traditions carried on by the state. He stated, ...and this group of college build- ings, as it gradually develops into its different courts, can carry the early tradi- tions, fittingly tying in the bond of tradi- tion, the old history and the new, the past, the present and hope for the future. When the plans were put to work, there were five major buildings centrally lo- cated on the site: Administration, Textile Engineering, West Engineering, the orig- inal portion of Home Economics, and the original portion of Chemistry. The Administration Building reflects the Spanish Alcaldia of the mid Six- teenth Century. The ornamentation is detailed, and the transitions from brick to stone are typical of Spanish architec- ture. On the north facade, the names of subjects taught, the five great institutions of democracy and the results of those institutions reflect the philosophical theme of the time period. Dr. Horn also selected two quotes to be placed on the north facade as a symbol of inspiration for students and faculty. Mexico, the Confederacy, the United States, Texas and Texas Tech were placed on the north facade to remind everyone of Texas ' his- tory. For further inspiration, there is a gallery of heroes in which a great contro- versy arose over the selection of historical leaders to be placed on the north facade. When the decisions were finally made, Columbus, Washington, Lincoln, Lee, Wilson, Hogg, Johnston, Crockett, Aus- tin and Houston were placed over win- dows on the second level of the north side. The scale of the Textile Engineering Building is based on a more modest style. The building was built suitable for hous- ing machinery and thus, a flat roof and large windows were built for more interi- or light and space. Perhaps the most tedious work on campus, the silhouette and entrance portal are reminiscent of Southwest Spanish missions, and styl- ized cotton bales make up the ornamen- tation on the second level. The west Engineering Building pro- vides space and rooms for heavy equip- ment for the civil, electrical and mechani- cal departments and has open drafting room for architecture. The Textile and Engineering buildings were built around the same time. However, their decor and appearance are distinctly different. Dr. Horn was involved with administration of the college at that time and left the questions of the exteriors up to the archi- tects. He requested a plaque or bust of Davis to be placed in the front of the building but the idea was dropped and to this day, the identities of the busts are a mystery. The original portion of the Home Eco- nomics Building was the smallest con- truction project. The location was appro- priate for the time period because this area was referred to as women ' s coun- try. This building has expanded over the years in all directions, but the modest three-arched entrance remains. The original portion of the three-story Chemistry Building is reminiscent of the court of honor in Palacio Monterey in Salamanca. The designs of all chemical symbols and inscriptions the Aristotelian signs of fire, air, water and earth as well as many letter indications and chemical compounds can be found in decorative style mainly on the north facade. —By Jennifer Gilbert r 1, i b ■p IBiq Chemistry ' Building Administration Building Civil Mechanical Engineering 16 — Campus Architecture

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Blame It On The Rain 18 — Homecoming