Vol Walker Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Vol Walker Library-University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
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Vol Walker Hall as viewed from Old Main
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 Location in Arkansas
Location in the United States
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| Location | Campus Dr., Fayetteville, Arkansas |
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| Area | 2.8 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | John Milner Associates, Inc. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Classical Revival, Other, Georgian Revival |
| MPS | Public Schools in the Ozarks MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92001105 |
| Added to NRHP | September 4, 1992 |
Vol Walker Hall is a special building at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It used to be the main library for the university. Today, it is home to the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. This means it's where students learn to design buildings and spaces.
The building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This list includes buildings, sites, and objects that are important to American history and culture.
Who Was Vol Walker?
The building is named after a very important person named James Volney "Vol" Walker. He was a student at the University of Arkansas in 1877. Later, he became a respected lawyer and a member of the Arkansas state government.
In 1934, the university leaders decided to name the building after him. Vol Walker was key in making sure the University stayed in Fayetteville. Some people wanted to move it, but he helped keep it right where it was.
Building History: From Library to Design School
Vol Walker Hall was built because the university needed a new library. In 1931, the university president, John C. Futrall, found a way to get money from the government. This money came from the Public Works Administration, a program that helped create jobs and build things during a tough economic time.
The design for the new library was inspired by a similar building at the University of Rochester. The same architects who designed that library, Gordon and Kaehler, were hired to design Vol Walker Hall. The building was finished in 1935 and served as the university's main library for many years.
In 1968, a new, bigger library called Mullins Library was built. Vol Walker Hall was no longer the main library. That's when its name officially changed to Vol Walker Hall.
Modern Updates and Expansion
Vol Walker Hall got a big update and expansion that finished in 2013. This project took two years to complete. A new part, called the Steven L. Anderson Design Center, was added to the historic building.
This new section added about 37,000 square feet of space. It includes studios for students, offices for teachers, and more classrooms. Thanks to this expansion, the entire Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design can now be in one place.
The new design center was created by Marlon Blackwell, a famous professor from the School of Architecture. It has won several awards for its design. These include a major award from the American Institute of Architects in 2018.
