Barnes Hall is a student-services building located in the center of the

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

campus in

Ithaca, New York Ithaca () is a city in and the county seat of Tompkins County, New York, United States. Situated on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York (state), New York, Ithaca is the largest community in the Ithaca metrop ...

. It was built in 1887 in a Romanesque style and has 21,618 sq ft.

History

John R. Mott, Cornell Class of 1888, was concerned about Cornell's "godless" reputation, and became the leader in the Student Christian Association. Under his leadership the group started raising money for a headquarters building.

Alfred Smith Barnes __NOTOC__ Alfred Smith Barnes (January 28, 1817 – February 17, 1888) was an American publisher and philanthropist. Early life Barnes was born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Eli Barnes of Southington, Connecticut, a farmer and innkeeper, who foun ...

, a publisher and Cornell trustee, funded the construction of the building next to

Sage Chapel Sage Chapel is the non-denominational chapel on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York State which serves as the burial ground for many contributors to Cornell's history, including the founders of the university: Ezra Cornell and A ...

on what was then called Central Avenue (now Ho Plaza). William Henry Miller originally developed two competing designs for the building, a gothic design and the more modern Romanesque. The latter was constructed. The building is an L shape with a tower containing its main stairwell in the corner. Its main entrance faces the entry of Sage Chapel and it was built from matching bricks. The top floor is a large recital room with a cathedral ceiling supported by hammer beams. The lower floors contained public spaces and meeting rooms. The corner stone bears the inscription "For the Promotion of God's Truth among Men". Barnes Hall was Cornell's first student union. In 1925, that function moved across Central Avenue to

Willard Straight Hall Willard Straight Hall is the student union building on the central campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. It is located on Campus Road, adjacent to the Ho Plaza and Cornell Health. History 19th century Willard Straight Hall's constru ...

. In 1952, its religious functions moved to Anabel Taylor Hall, and the Cornell Campus Store and a U.S. Post Office took over the lower levels. However, in 1970, a new underground campus store, designed by

Earl Flansburgh Earl Robert Flansburgh (April 28, 1931 – February 3, 2009) was an American architect known for his modernist style and extensive work in the Boston area. Early life and education Flansburgh grew up in Ithaca, New York. His father, Earl Alva ...

was built under the grass quadrangle between Barnes and Sage. After closing the building for a year-long renovation, Barnes was repurposed with the Dean of Students Office in the ground floor, the International Students Office and the Committee on Special Educational Projects (COSEP) on the second floor and the top floor preserved as a recital hall with a grand piano. Following the merger of the Dean of Students Office and the University Unions Department, the dean of students moved into offices formerly used by various student activities in Williard Straight Hall. Barnes Hall currently houses the Public Service Center and the Career Services Office, after a move from Sage Hall following the departure of the dean of students. Both offices are popular with students trying to connect with communities outside of Cornell.

References

External links

Official webpage
Cornell University buildings William Henry Miller buildings 1887 establishments in New York (state) {{Coord, 42.446406, -76.484592, region:US_type:landmark, display=title