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 building at Union College in Schenectady, New York. It's special because it has 16 sides and is made of stone. This amazing building is like the heart of the college campus.
It was built to honor Eliphalet Nott, who was the president of Union College for a very long time, from 1804 to 1866. The Nott Memorial is about 110 feet (33.5 meters) tall and 89 feet (27 meters) wide. It's known for its beautiful Victorian style of architecture. This building is so important that it is a National Historic Landmark.
Building a Unique Design
The Nott Memorial is often called "The Nott" by students and teachers. Its central spot on campus was planned way back in 1813 by Josef Ramee. This was part of the first ever planned college campus in the United States!
The building was designed by Edward Tuckerman Potter. He was an architect who designed churches and homes in the area. He also went to Union College and was President Nott's grandson. Building the Nott Memorial started in 1858 and finished in 1879.
It is one of only a few buildings in the world with 16 sides. Another building like it in the northeastern United States is the Round Church in Vermont. For almost 100 years, the inside of the Nott was mostly open. In 1961, the college put its bookstore in the basement. They also made the first two floors into a special kind of theater called "theater in the round." Over time, the upper floors were closed off and became run down.
Bringing the Nott Back to Life
In 1993, Union College started a big project to fix up the Nott Memorial. They wanted to make it look just like it did when it was first built. A famous architecture company from Boston, Finegold Alexander & Associates, worked on this project. A. J. Martini Inc. were the builders.
The bookstore and theater were moved to other places on campus. In 1995, the Nott Memorial reopened. This was a special event because it was Union College's 200th birthday!
Now, the middle of the Nott is completely open all the way up to its dome, which is 102 feet (31 meters) high. The main floor is a large meeting room that can hold up to 400 people. The second and third levels go around this open space. They have galleries and places for students to meet. There are 288 beautiful stained glass windows that fill the inside with colorful light.
At the very top of the dome, there is a quote written in colored slate. It's from an ancient text called the Talmud. The quote is in Hebrew and 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.
Art and Student Galleries
The Mandeville Gallery opened in 1995 after the Nott Memorial was fully restored. You can find it on the second floor. This gallery shows different art exhibits by famous modern artists. These artists often explore important topics of today.
The Wikoff Student Gallery is on the third floor of the Nott Memorial. This gallery shows art created by students who are currently studying at Union College.
Because the Nott Memorial has such an unusual design, the Mandeville Gallery is a very special place to see art. It's like a balcony, open to the floors above and below. The gallery has two curved areas for viewing, which makes it a unique and creative space for art.
