Van Wormer Library, part of the

University of Cincinnati The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati, informally Cincy) is a public university, public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1819 and had an enrollment of over 53,000 students in 2024, making it the ...

campus, is a

classical architecture Classical architecture typically refers to architecture consciously derived from the principles of Ancient Greek architecture, Greek and Ancient Roman architecture, Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or more specifically, from ''De archit ...

-style library building designed by

Samuel Hannaford Samuel Hannaford (10 April 1835 – 7 January 1911) was an American architect based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Some of the best known landmarks in the city, such as Music Hall and City Hall, were of his design. The bulk of Hannaford's work was d ...

in 1899, and opened on May 1, 1901. Funding was provided by Asa Van Wormer with $50,000 worth of street railroad capital stock in memory of his late wife, who died October 4, 1878.

Renovation

In 2006, a $10.7 million

renovation Renovation (also called remodeling) is the process of improving broken, damaged, or outdated structures. Renovations are typically done on either commercial or residential buildings. Additionally, renovation can refer to making something new, o ...

was undertaken, creating a new

dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...

and improving lighting. Prior to the renovation the dome provided

natural light Natural Light, formerly Anheuser-Busch Natural Light, nicknamed Natty, is an American reduced-calorie light lager brewed by Anheuser-Busch. Its ingredients are listed as water, barley malt, cereal grains, yeast, and hops. One serving contains ...

on the top floor only, but now all floors benefit from it. Van Wormer is no longer a library; university administrative offices are now housed in the building.

References

Library buildings completed in 1901 University of Cincinnati buildings and structures Libraries in Ohio Samuel Hannaford buildings {{Cincinnati-stub