Our History

1800's

• The inauguration of the University Library took place during a grand reception on December 10, 1895. Initially, the library's ground floor accommodated the Nebraska State Historical Society. The second floor was exclusively dedicated to library operations, while the third floor hosted an art gallery and instructional spaces for mechanical and freehand drawing. By 1912, Chancellor Avery conveyed to the Historical Society the necessity of repurposing the entire building for library functions. Subsequent transformations saw the building serving as Navy Hall and, presently, as Architecture Hall. (1)
• The seeds of architecture being taught at the university can be seen in initial offerings in the 1890’s. According to the 1895 yearbook, Professor George B Hussey taughta course on "History of Styles of Architecture" and William Francis (W.F.) Dann taught the "Styles of Architecture " in 1898 for the Art Department. Also advertised in the 1895-1896 catalog was a “Three-year course in Architecture” with required prerequisites. (2)
• Tracing our academic lineage, the journey began with the establishment of the Industrial College in 1877.  This college served as the precursor to the College of Engineering, which, in turn, became the predecessor of the College of Engineering and Architecture. Finally, the evolution culminated in the formation of the College of Architecture. (3) 

1900’s

• The Industrial College was abolished in 1909 and became the College of Agriculture and the College of Engineering . (4) 
• The first courses that included some type of space planning and interior furnishing goes all the way back to 1908/09 in a course called Household Economics. It included House plans and furnishings….ventilation, heating, lighting, water supply and disposal of waste. There were also textile courses in these very early years. (5) (6) 
• In 1913, the College of Engineering established a new area of emphasis -- Architectural Engineering -- under the direction of Dean O.V.P. Stout. This became a four-year degree offering. (7) 

1930’s

• The Department of Architecture was established in 1930. Among degrees offered by the program were the five-year Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architecture degree. (8) 
•  According to Commencement programs before 1930, there were bachelor’s and master’s degrees in "architectural engineering" but not simply architecture.  
• The first "Bachelor of Architecture" was in 1931
• The first "Master of Architecture" was in 1933  
• The two people awarded these degrees got their bachelor’s in 1931 and master’s in 1933: Fred William Deakin and Benjamin Franklin Hemphill. They were "firsts" two times! (9)
• In 1930, Harry F. Cunningham was the founder and first chairman of the Department of Architecture in the College of Engineering (10)  
• The Department of Architecture was mainly housed in the Mechanical Arts Building.   (11) 
• Linus Burr Smith hired 1934 as Architecture Department chair to 1964. He spent nearly forty years being a professor at the University of Nebraska, including thirty years as Chairman of the School of Architecture.[2] During his time at the University of Nebraska, the size of the Department of Architecture grew immensely from only a few students to over 250. In the year of his stepping down as chairman, the University's 1964 Annual E Week was dedicated to him. (12) 
• The Department of Architecture, part of the College of Engineering, was moved to the basement of the Temple building in 1933. (13)

1940’s

• UNL Library starts evacuating Library Hall in 1941 (present day Architecture Hall). They would not be fully moved into Love Library until the fall of 1945.  (14)  (15)  
• The Architecture Department was still housed in the UNL Temple building basement as of 1942. Documentation suggests the department was in this location until they moved to present day Architecture Hall. (16) 
• In 1945, Library Hall was renamed to Navy Hall.  It was home of the NROTC unit, a naval training area with bunks, student lounge/ recreation room, administrative offices. They received notice in December 1945 that the unit was closing in January 1946. It housed 180 men in the hall. (17) (18) 
• 1946, the Architectural Department moved to Navy Hall (the Old University Library) and it was renamed “Architectural Hall.” (19) 
• In 1947, the College of Engineering became the "College of Engineering and Architecture." (20) 

1960’s

• The School of Architecture was created in 1964. (21) 
•  Interior Design became a major in 1964. (22)  
•  In 1964 the Textiles, Clothing and Design Department (TC&D) was created and included Interior Design as a major. (23) (24)
• In 1965 interior design courses were taught in both TC&D and the Art Department.  The term “Interior Design Program” was used informally in each department.  Courses in Textiles, Clothing and Design had a home furnishings orientation and were taught by Barbara Laging.   Interior design courses in the Art Department were taught by an unnamed instructor who had professional experience in interior design.  In those days, there was little concern about course duplication.  Although TC&D Professor Robert Hillestad’s area of expertise was in apparel design, he advised students studying in interior design for many years.  Their programs usually included courses offered in both Art and Textile departments as well as certain courses in the Department of Architecture such as the history of architecture. (25)  
• 1966/67-1968/69-- Home Furnishing and Interiors Program (or major) was housed within the Family Economics and Management Dept. as evidence in the UNL Course bulletin. (26)  
• First known Interior Design Graduates 1968 (27) 

1970’s

• When the School of Home Economics became the College of Home Economics in 1970, Textiles, Clothing & Design became the administrative unit for the Interior Design Program and corresponding courses in the Art Department were subsequently eliminated.   (28)  
• The School of Environmental Development was founded in 1970. 
• The new school, within the College of Engineering and Architecture, had three departments: Department of Architecture, Department of Planning and Department of Construction Science.  (29)  
• Professor Bertram Berenson was the director of this new school, while Professor Homer Puderbaugh served as Chair of the Department of Architecture. (30)  
• 1971/72-1972/73—called “Home Furnishing and Interiors,” and was moved to the Dept of Textiles Clothing and Design in the College of Home Economics. (31)
• In 1971, the Bachelor of Architecture degree was approved for replacement by the Bachelor of Architectural Studies degree by the Board of Regents. Thus, the first professional degree was designated, in line with national trends, to be the Master of Architecture, granted after six years of study. (32)
• The formation of the College of Architecture in 1973 (33)  
• The Community and Regional Planning (CRP) Master Program was established in 1973, starting off with three courses: Urbanism and Planning in the United States,” “Planning Process and Theory” and “Housing Renewal and Development.” The following year, the Board of Regents approved the Community and Regional Planning degree. (34)   
• Roger Massey served as the first chair of the CRP Program. (35)   
• Community Resource and Research Center (CRRC) was established at a departmental equivalent level in May of 1974. This new department included the transfer of the existing Community Development Unit of the General Extension Division, the Community Design Center and the Department of Architecture to the CRRC. The center was eliminated by the Board of Regents in 1986. (36)  
• 1975-77—The Interior Design Program is called “Interiors,” and is still in TC&D in the College of Home Economics. (37) 
• The first Master of Community and Regional Planning degree was granted in 1975. Robert Micheal Beecham is listed as the first CRP graduate in December.  (38) 
• W. Cecil Steward is the first dean of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s College of Architecture. At the time of his appointment in 1973, he was the youngest dean of architecture in the nation. He served in the role for more than 27 years, retiring in 2000. (39)  
• The first students graduated from the College of Architecture in December of 1973. During that December, the college granted one Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies and six Bachelor of Architecture degrees, while four Master of Architecture degrees were awarded by the Graduate College and administered by the College of Architecture. In the spring of 1974, the college granted 33 Bachelor of Architecture and 23 Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies degrees, along with two Master of Architecture degrees conferred by the Graduate College and administered by the College of Architecture  (40)
• The College of Law vacated their old building and moved to east campus in 1974. This building was originally built in 1912. (41)   
• In 1976, the Interior Design Program (with the College of Home Economics) was the first Nebraska-Iowa chapter region of the American Society of Interior Designers to gain professional accreditation. Accrediting organization: The Foundation for Interior Design Education Research (FIDER). (42) 

1980 & 1990's

• Between 1985-1987, Bahr, Vermeer and Haecker built the Architecture Hall Link, a glass atrium building which connected two existing buildings: Architecture Hall East and Architecture Hall West.  This renovation project created a more cohesive location for students to study. At the time students were spread throughout the 501 Building, Richards Hall and Architectural Hall. (43)  
• In 1992 the Master of Architecture Degree program was separated from the UNL Graduate College to designate it as a first-professional degree of the College of Architecture. A request to continue the post-professional graduate degree, Master of Science in Architecture, under the auspice of the Graduate College was also approved. (44)
• The Interior Design Program joined the College of Architecture July 1^st, 1993, from the College of Home Economics.   This transition happened under the leadership of emeritus professor and Interior Design Program Director Betsy Gabb. (45) 

2000's

• The college’s second dean, Wayne Drummond began his tenure as Dean in the summer of 2000 and served until 2011. (46)  
• The 2000-2001 academic year the Bachelor of Science in Design degrees (BSD), replaced the Bachelor of Science in Architecture Studies(BSAS). (47)  
• In 2003-2004 at the request of the Chancellor, the College restructured, converting its Departments into Programs. The administration of these new units changed from Department Chairs to Program Directors. In this process, Interior Design Program was formally separated from architecture. (48)  
• The Landscape Architecture Program began under the Architecture Program in 2006 and the leadership of Mark Hoistad and became an independent program in 2008. In 2009, Professor Kim Wilson accepted a faculty position as director of Landscape Architecture. (49)  

2010's & 2020's

• 2011-12 – The first graduates of the Landscape Architecture Program (50)  
• In August 2014, UNL administrators proposed the creation of a new UNL college, which will unite the College of Architecture and the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts. This proposed merger had strong opposition from alumni and faculty. (51)  
• In June 2015, University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds removed from consideration the merger of the College of Architecture and the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts from the June 12 Board of Regents agenda.  (52)  
• Katherine Ankerson served as dean of the College of Architecture from 2016 to 2022. (53)  
• In the 2022 fall semester, the College of Architecture opened up a new library and 11 new studios as part one of a two-phased construction project. Phase one entailed moving the Architecture Hall Library from the north wing of Architecture Hall East and relocating it to the first floor of Architecture Hall West providing ground floor access for the newly remodeled library. All three floors of Architecture Hall East’s north wing, where the library once stood, are now renovated into much needed studio space. The Architecture Hall Library was relocated to the first level of Architecture Hall West to a newly remodeled 2,490 sq.ft. facility with student common areas. This phase was implemented by Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture, the Whiting -Turner Contracting Company and Nebraska University Facilities, Planning and Capital Programs. (54)  
• In the 2022 fall semester, Phase Two of the college’s construction project began. This involves an expansion project which will add 14 new studios and a renovation of eight studios in the Architecture Hall West building among other changes.  The firm awarded the contract for the second phase of the project was given to HDR Inc. As part of that phase, the 1957 “stacks” addition was demolished in the fall of 2022 to make room for the new studios.  (54)  
• The College of Architecture complex houses two of the oldest buildings at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Architecture Hall East was put into service in 1895 as the old UNL Library and is the oldest building in the UNL system. This building was also placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Architecture Hall West, the old Law College, was built in 1912. Architecture Hall West is the fifth oldest building on UNL’s city campus.  (55)  
• Kevin Van Den Wymelenberg was hired as dean in 2023  (56)  
• In the fall of 2024, the HDR Pavilion building addition is completed just in time for fall classes. ( Phase Two construction is complete.) (57)

Sources:

(1) Historical Buildings, 2005, https://historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=12&csrt=7964654853536785493

(2) UNL Yearbooks 1895/1898, https://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1895,304#page/183/mode/transcription & University of Nebraska Catalog 1895-1896

(3 ) Daily Nebraskan, 1938, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1938-05-10/ed-1/seq-5/#words=college+industrial 

(4) Daily Nebraskan, 1909, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1909-02-02/ed-1/seq-1/#words=college+industrial

(5) Architecture and art librarian Kay Logan Peters,1999

(6) Daily Nebraskan, 1976,  

(7) UNL APR Report, 2014  https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf

(8) UNL APR Report, 2014  https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf

(9)-Source UNL Library Archives.

(10) E-NebraskaHistory, 2024,  -http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Harry_Francis_Cunningham_(1888-1959),_Architect

(11) UNL Yearbook, 1934, https://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1934,414#page/33/mode/transcription  

(12) E-NebraskaHistory, 2024,  -http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Linus_Burr_Smith_(1899-1982),_Architect#References

(13) UNL Yearbook, 1934, 

https://yearbooks.unl.edu/yearbook.php?year=1934,414#page/34/mode/transcription

(14) Daily Nebraskan, 1942,  https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1942-06-26/ed-1/seq-2/#words=Hall+Library

(15) Daily Nebraskan, 1947 https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1947-09-28/ed-1/seq-2/#words=LIBRARY+LOVE+MEMORIAL+open

(16) Daily Nebraskan, 1942, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1942-04-24/ed-1/seq-4/#words=basement+Temple

(17) Daily Nebraskan, 1945, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1945-09-19/ed-1/seq-3/#words=Hall+hall+Navy

(18) Daily Nebraskan, 1945, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1945-11-30/ed-1/seq-1/#words=Hall+Navy

(19) Daily Nebraskan, 1946, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1946-10-02/ed-1/seq-1/#words=Hall+Navy

(20) UNL APR Report, 2014

https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf

(21) UNL APR Report, 2014

https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf

(22) Daily Nebraskan, 1976, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1976-11-19/ed-1/seq-9/#words=design+interior+Interior+program

(23) Professor and Architecture and Art Librarian Kay Logan Peters, 1999

(24) Daily Nebraskan, 1963, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1963-09-30/ed-1/seq-3/#words=Clothing+Design+Textiles

(25) Robert Hillestad, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Textiles, Clothing, and Design and Professor and Architecture and Art Librarian Kay Logan Peters, 1999

(26) Robert Hillestad, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Textiles, Clothing, and Design and Professor and Architecture and Art Librarian Kay Logan Peters, 1999

(27) Daily Nebraskan, 1972, https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1972-09-18/ed-1/seq-1/#words=degree+design+interior

(28) Robert Hillestad, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Textiles, Clothing, and Design and Professor and Architecture and Art Librarian Kay Logan Peters, 1999

(29) UNL APR Report, 2014

https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf 

and University of Nebraska Board of Regents Minutes, 1970, 

https://borminutes.nebraska.edu/isysquery/369a24f7-6cfd-4101-ba85-971f6f15545e/21-30/list/

(30) Robert Hillestad, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Textiles, Clothing, and Design and Professor and Architecture and Art Librarian Kay Logan Peters, 1999

(31) Robert Hillestad, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Textiles, Clothing, and Design and Professor and Architecture and Art Librarian Kay Logan Peters, 1999

(32) University of Nebraska Board of Regents Minutes, 1971,  https://uofnelincoln-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/kvondrak2_unl_edu/EY8SxePqyTlHpNoE-UIlQJEBCvKdauOvRFljlUtukPMXlw?e=A1SE5g

(33) UNL APR Report, 2014

https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf 

and University of Nebraska Board of Regents Minutes, 1973 https://borminutes.nebraska.edu/isysquery/369a24f7-6cfd-4101-ba85-971f6f15545e/31-40/list/

(34) Daily Nebraskan, 1973 https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1973-09-05/ed-1/seq-10/#words=community+planning+program+regional and 

University of Nebraska Board of Regents Minutes, 1973,1974 https://borminutes.nebraska.edu/isysquery/369a24f7-6cfd-4101-ba85-971f6f15545e/31-40/list/ 

(35) Daily Nebraskan, 1973 https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1973-09-05/ed-1/seq-10/#words=community+planning+program+regional
(36) University of Nebraska Board of Regents Minutes, 1974, https://uofnelincoln-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/kvondrak2_unl_edu/EY8SxePqyTlHpNoE-UIlQJEBCvKdauOvRFljlUtukPMXlw?e=A1SE5g

(37) Robert Hillestad, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Textiles, Clothing, and Design and Professor and Architecture and Art Librarian Kay Logan Peters, 1999    

(38) UNL Library Archives and the Omaha World Herald, 2024 

(39) UNL NEWS, 1921,  https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/obituary-w-cecil-steward/

(40)-University of Nebraska Commencement Program 1974/UNL Archives, https://uofnelincoln-my.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/personal/kvondrak2_unl_edu/Eb6ouK-CyC5AtwyNSoynXqQBx5c38h4XtD1thtVR1wn6AQ?e=hjOFCM

(41) Historical Buildings, 2005,  https://historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=17

(42) Daily Nebraskan, 1976 https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1976-11-19/ed-1/seq-9/#words=design+interior+Interior+program

(43) UNL Libraries, 2024, -https://historicbuildings.unl.edu/building.php?b=12

(44) University of Nebraska Board of Regents Minutes, 1973 Board of Regents Minutes, 1992 https://borminutes.nebraska.edu/isysquery/c13b0a80-6d5d-40c3-b6c3-33094115635f/21-30/list/

(45) Daily Nebraskan, 1994  https://nebnewspapers.unl.edu/lccn/sn96080312/1994-10-05/ed-1/seq-3/#words=design+interior+moved+program and UNL Architecture Librarian Kay Logan Peters, 1999

(46) UNL College of Architecture, 2024 https://architecture.unl.edu/wayne-drummond

(47)UNL APR Report, 2014

https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf

(48) UNL APR Report, 2014

https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf

(49) UNL APR Report, 2014

https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf

(50) UNL APR Report, 2014

https://architecture.unl.edu/pdfs/UNL_ARCH_2014%20APR%2014_0915.pdf

(51) Journal Star, 2014,  https://journalstar.com/news/local/education/unl-proposes-merger-of-architecture-arts-schools/article_a55bef52-a1cb-54e8-8c92-0a88612a19fa.html

(52) UNL News, 2015, https://nebraska.edu/news-and-events/news/2015/proposed-unl-architecture-fine-arts-merger-removed-from-regents-agenda

(53) UNL News, 2022, https://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/today/article/ankerson-named-nebraska-s-new-executive-vice-chancellor/

(54) UNL College of Architecture News, 2022, https://architecture.unl.edu/news/college-architecture-construction-updates

(55) UNL College of Architecture News, 2022, https://architecture.unl.edu/news/college-architecture-construction-updates

 (56) UNL News, 2022, https://www.unl.edu/chancellor/topadmin/deans_directors/kvd-wymelenberg

(57) UNL News, 2024  https://architecture.unl.edu/news/architecture-hall-expansion-honor-hdr-collaboration/