Founders Hall - the Heart of Juniata
"Faculty work to have students express themselves clearly, even persuasively, with logic and evidence; and that should happen in one of our most venerated buildings on campus--as well as in other ones."
Betty Ann Cherry
Professor Emeritus
It is impossible to truly know individuals or colleges without knowing their hearts. What is it that drives the way they think, act, and evolve? Juniata is driven in the way that we capture and convey the essence of an education in the liberal arts and sciences: advanced thinking in the social sciences and cutting-edge science, balanced by the insight afforded in the humanities. The icon symbolizing Juniata's heart has always been Founders Hall. It's fitting that a restored and expanded Founders Hall will accommodate the departments of English and history, foundations of the liberal arts and humanities.
"On every college campus there is a building that connects students to the past," says Founders Campaign Chair Linda Wachsmuth McKonly '73. "Founders Hall is our link to Juniata's storied history, and we owe it to future graduates and past students to revitalize its legacy." A recent survey by the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers states seventy-three percent of students surveyed say the facility housing their major was critical in selecting their college.
Founders Hall, originally known as "The Building," was constructed in 1878-79 and housed the entire College community. For nearly a century, the building was the hub of Juniata, as students, faculty, and administration shared classrooms, dormitories, chapel, the library, and the cafeteria. The most recognizable and enduring symbol of Juniata, Founders Hall--its bell tower, distinctive brick walkways, welcoming porch, and towering trees (most planted by early students), remains the College's signature building. It's the facility on campus most frequently photographed, illustrated, digitized, studied, and immortalized. Every Juniata alumnus has walked its halls.
The original design created a chapel (now the registrar's office) with no support pillars which allowed unimpeded sightlines and resulted in an innovative truss system that supported the upper floors. Unfortunately, structural issues associated with the support system forced Juniata to vacate the top two floors of the four-story Founders Hall in 1980. Intervening attempts to restore the building were hampered by increasing costs, and despite loyal donors--insufficient funds.
Responding to encouragement from faculty, alumni, and parents during strategic planning, the College committed to creating new academic space for the English and history departments.
Designs by architects well-versed in historic preservation will blend a larger and new structure with the historic main structure. This plan will meld two departments that are at the core of the liberal arts and humanities with student services and senior administration. The architectural firm Street, Dixon and Rick, creators of the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts, are brilliant innovators at blending existing historic buildings with new additions. Witness the new Suzanne von Liebig Theatre's seamless integration with the renovated Rosenberger Auditorium.