The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Administration Building

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Administration Building (1928), Notre Dame College

Adminstration Building (ca. 2003), Notre Dame College

Institution Name: Notre Dame College
Original/Historic Place Name: "The College" (the building had no name)
Location on Campus: 4545 College Rd.
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1926-1928	original construction McLaughlin & Associates
1961	addition of west wing Unknown

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

Foundation: poured cement

Walls: red brick

Roof: antiqued slate

Function:

ca. 1928	residence hall (for students and for nuns)
ca. 1928	dining hall (as well as kitchen and food storage)
ca. 1928	old main
ca. 1928	library
ca. 1928	other (laundry)
ca. 1928	gymnasium (with showers)
1928-present (2007)	facility management building (maintenance department, boiler room)
1928-present (2007)	library (archives)
1928-present (2007)	other (bookstore, mailroom, lounges, reception area)
1928-present (2007)	theater
1928-present (2007)	chapel
1928-present (2007)	administration
1928-present (2007)	faculty offices
1928-present (2007)	classrooms (and laboratories)

Significance: architecture, education, religion
Landmark designation:

National Register

Notre Dame College of Ohio (1983)

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
Thomas D. McLaughlin & Associates, of Lima, Ohio, developed the original plan for the college. The Landscape was designed by A.D. Taylor. Construction began in 1926 and was completed in 1928, and the college welcomed students on September 17, 1928. Numerous buildings were planned in the English-Tudor-Gothic ("collegiate") style and arranged in a quadrangle over 53 acres in South Euclid, Ohio. Unfortunately, the Sisters of Notre Dame ran out of money, and only the east and north wings of the first building (now called the Administration Building) could be completed. With the 1929 stock market crash and the ensuing depression, the dreams of developing the 53-acre site were put aside. College life would pass in an incomplete building from 1928 to 1961. Finally, in 1961, the funds were raised to construct the west wing. In 1955, the second building on campus was constructed--Harks Hall, a dormitory for students. Only the Administration Building was built in the original McLaughlin design, and Taylor's landscape design was also never developed.

The Administration Building was placed on the National Register in 1984.

The Sisters of Notre Dame (a German religious, teaching order that came to the USA in 1874) founded Notre Dame College in 1922. College classes were first held at the site of Notre Dame Academy on Ansel Road, Cleveland, from 1922-1928. The college opened in South Euclid in 1928. From 1922 to 2000, NDC was a "women only" college. Men were admitted to all programs in 2001. Today, over 1000 undergraduate and graduate students are enrolled, most of whom are communters. NDC is renowned for its education, business, and science degree programs. Most graduates remain in the area following graduation.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Reinhard, Mary Marthe, Rose Cira, and Eric Johannesen. Notre Dame College of Ohio. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1983.

II. Location of other data:

University: Special Collections

SHPO

Government Offices