The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Roy and Lillie Cullen Building

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Roy and Lillie Cullen Building (partial front facade, with tower, from the south), Southwestern University

Roy and Lillie Cullen Building (detail, tower), Southwestern University

Roy and Lillie Cullen Building (side view, from the east), Southwestern University

Institution Name: Southwestern University
Original/Historic Place Name: The Main Building; The University Building
Location on Campus: 1001 E. University
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1898-1900	original construction Layton & Raymond
1977	renovation Unknown
2002	renovation Unknown

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

Foundation: stone piers; wood beams; wood flooring

Walls: stone; plaster; wood; stone (facing)

Roof: wood; slate; composition

Function:

ca. 1900	theater
ca. 1900	other (physics laboratory)
ca. 1900	other (debate hall)
ca. 1900	gymnasium
ca. 1900	chapel
ca. 1900-present (2007)	classrooms
ca. 1900-present (2007)	administration

Significance: architecture, education
Landmark designation:

National Register

Southwestern University Administration Building and Mood Hall (1975)

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
The cornerstone of the Roy and Lillie Cullen Building was set Sept 8, 1898 and the building completed April 23, 1900. Designed by architects Layton & Raymond of Oklahoma, the building façade was constructed of ornately detailed limestone, locally quarried and hauled by horse and wagon. The mason that did the work on this building also did the stonework for the Texas Capital building in Austin. Hand tools used in the construction of the building are located in Special Collections. At the turn of the century the building was hailed as one of the finest collegiate buildings west of the Mississippi. The administrative building set the design standards for all permanent future buildings. A few buildings deviated from the core design but have since been demolished and replaced with architecture more complimentary to the design of this building.

Robert Stewart Hyer, a well known scientist, had his office in this building and conducted early experiments in wireless telegraphy and x-ray machines in the Physics Lab on the first floor. Hyer supervised the construction of the building. Hyer served as President of Southwestern University and later became President of SMU. Writer J. Frank Dobie often visited the Administrative Building and on one occasion participated in a tree planting ceremony. The live oak he planted is just south of the building.

Since the time of its construction, the Roy and Lillie Cullen Building has been carefully preserved. The windows, walls, trim, stairs and wainscot are original. A 1977 renovation focused on HVAC and life safety issues. A recent (2002) renovation salvaged the original long leaf pine wood flooring from the auditorium, some of which was used in the project as flooring and the remainder was stored for future renovations. The present Facilities Master Plan includes a project for complete renovation of the building. The proposed renovation continues the history of preservation and proposes to showcase the building as one of Texas's best collegiate examples of Romanesque revival architecture.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

Jones, Ralph Wood. Southwestern University 1840 - 1961. Austin, TX: Jenkins Publishing Co., 1973.

Myrick-Newman-Dahlberg and Partners. Campus Planning: Redesign, Redevelopment, Rethinking: Proceedings of a Professional Development Symposium. [Dallas, TX: Myrick-Newman-Dahlberg & Partners], 1983.

"Urban Design and Planning Citation: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Houston." Progressive Architecture 64 (January 1983): 126-28.

Williams, Joe, and Michael C. Riddle. Southwestern University Administration Building and Mood Hall. National Register of Historic Places designation report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park Service, 1975.

II. Location of other data:

University: Special Collections

SHPO

Government Offices