Nott Memorial facts for kids
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Nott Memorial Hall
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View from east, 2009
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Schenectady, New York |
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| Built | 1858 |
| Architect | Edward Tuckerman Potter |
| Architectural style | High Victorian Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000912 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 5, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | June 24, 1986 |
The Nott Memorial is a unique 16-sided stone building at Union College in Schenectady, New York. It's a very important and famous building on campus. It was built to honor Eliphalet Nott, who was the president of Union College for a very long time (62 years!). This amazing building is about 110 feet (33 meters) tall and 89 feet (27 meters) wide. It's known for its beautiful Victorian style and is even a National Historic Landmark.
Building Design and History
The Nott Memorial is officially called Nott Memorial Hall. But students and teachers usually just call it "The Nott." Its central spot on campus was planned way back in 1813. This was part of the first ever planned college campus in the United States.
The building was designed by Edward Tuckerman Potter. He was a college graduate and also President Nott's grandson. Potter designed many churches and homes in the area. Construction on the Nott Memorial started in 1858 and finished in 1879. It is one of only a few 16-sided buildings in the entire world! Another building with this unique shape is the Round Church in Vermont.
For almost 100 years, the inside of the Nott was mostly open. In 1961, the college moved its bookstore into the basement. They also changed the first two floors into a theater in the round. The upper floors were eventually closed off and started to fall apart.
Restoring the Nott Memorial
In 1993, Union College began a full renovation of the Nott. They wanted to bring it back to its original beautiful design. A famous architecture firm, Finegold Alexander & Associates, worked on this award-winning project. A. J. Martini Inc. were the contractors. The bookstore and theater were moved to other places on campus. In 1995, the Nott reopened to celebrate Union College's 200th birthday.
Now, the middle of the Nott is completely open all the way to the top of its dome. The dome is 102 feet (31 meters) high. The main floor is a large meeting room that can seat up to 400 people. The second and third levels go around this open space. They have galleries and places for students to meet. Two hundred eighty-eight restored stained glass windows fill the inside with colorful light.
At the very top of the dome, there's a special quote in colored slate. It's from Rabbi Tarfon in the Talmud. In Hebrew, it says: "The day is short, and the work is plentiful, and the laborers are indolent, and the reward is great, and the master of the house is insistent."
The Nott Memorial was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It was then named a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
Mandeville Gallery
The Mandeville Gallery opened in 1995 after the Nott Memorial was restored. It is located on the second floor of the Nott. The Mandeville Gallery shows different art exhibits. These exhibits feature modern artists from all over the country. They explore important topics of today.
The Wikoff Student Gallery is on the third floor of the Nott Memorial. It shows art created by students who are currently attending Union College.
Because of the Nott Memorial's unusual design, the Mandeville Gallery is a very special place to see art. The gallery is like a balcony, open to the floors above and below it. It has two curved areas for viewing, which makes it a unique and creative art space.
