The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Radford Auditorium

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Institution Name: McMurry University
Original/Historic Place Name: Radford Memorial Student Life Center
Location on Campus: 2150 Reservation Court
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1950	original construction David S. Castle & Company
1980s	renovation of exterior (roof) Unknown
ca. 1999	renovation Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: concrete

Walls: brick veneer

Roof: composite imitation slate (sharply gabled area)

Function:

1950-1960	other (bowling alley)
1950-1979	student union
1950-present (2007)	auditorium
ca. 1990-present (2007)	other (reception hall)
ca. 1990-present (2007)	administration

Significance: architecture, education, history, religion
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
Though the building has suffered from occasional periods of neglect over the years, it has been renovated and repaired and is currently in better shape than it has been since it was new. It was re-roofed in the 1980s and the exterior scrubbed and sealed. A renovation in the late 1990s included accommodations to make it handicapped-accessible, with the inclusion of ramps and an elevator.

Radford has been the site of numerous lectures, concerts, recitals, and meetings, as well as the scene of most of the graduation ceremonies of the last half-century. In 1968, it hosted a political rally featuring the Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Edmund Muskie.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Pride of Our Western Prairie, McMurray College, 1923-1982. Abilene, TX: McMurry University, 1989.

II. Location of other data:

University: Library, Special Collections, Facilities Management Office