The Home Economics Building on the campus of

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private university, private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provide ...

is a historic structure in

Nashville, Tennessee Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

Architecture and design

One of the first two buildings built on the new

Peabody College Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development (also known as Vanderbilt Peabody College, Peabody College, or simply Peabody) is the education school of Vanderbilt University, a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee ...

campus in 1912, the Home Economics Building (29,588 sq. ft.) is mirrored by its twin the Industrial Arts Building, now called Mayborn Hall. Initially referred to as the Household Arts Building, it was built by the New York firm the

Hedden Construction Company The Hedden Construction Company was a prolific builder based in Newark, New Jersey in the early 20th century. Some of the finest buildings in New Jersey, New York City, and other large eastern cities were built by the company. Among the most notabl ...

and designed by

Ludlow and Peabody Ludlow and Peabody was an American architectural firm with offices in New York City formed by partners Charles S. Peabody and William Orr Ludlow in 1909. The firm continued in practice under that name until 1935. Peabody graduated from Harvard in ...

Architects. It opened for classes in the summer of 1914. Although not as elaborate as the Industrial Arts Building the Home Economics Building does sport marble floors and exterior elements of design that reflect the domestic work for which the building was to be used. The red brick structure, the columns of the building as well as the decorative swag elements over the front windows perpetuate the style desired by President Bruce R. Payne and the Executive Committee of the Board of Trust, one that is reflective of the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and contains his The Lawn, Academical Village, a World H ...

campus where President Payne had attended college Subsequent buildings were styled in the same manner though not as elaborately. A small greenhouse (512 sq. ft.) built at the same time as the structure is attached to the building and still is in use. In 1993 the building was renovated eliminating the laboratories, expanding the classrooms and creating more faculty offices.

Use

Originally conceived of as a home for the study of Domestic Arts and housing two laboratories the Home Economics Building has seen what is taught within its walls change dramatically through the years. Rooms that taught the science of nutrition and elements of home canning have made way for classes on human development and psychology. In 1916, due to a lack of a proper library, the Home Economics Building housed 20,000 books in its Assembly Room with the overflow of books being stored in the Boiler Room of the Industrial Arts Building.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Home Economics Building (Vanderbilt University) Buildings and structures in Nashville, Tennessee Vanderbilt University University and college buildings completed in 1914 1914 establishments in Tennessee Home economics education