Dillard University, New Orleans, Louisiana
Dillard University report to the Getty (PDF) 37.9MB
A historically black private college chartered in 1930, Dillard
University occupies a unified, axially designed campus in the Beaux
Arts tradition. The ten white brick buildings that comprise the
historic campus surround a large open quadrangle delineated by two
long rows of live oak trees, the Avenue of the Oaks. A grant will
allow the university to assemble detailed documentation on their
historic buildings and landscape, which will serve as the basis for
future rehabilitation projects.
Dillard University received a Getty grant in 2003 for $100,000
to support campus heritage planning.
Historic Designation(s): Flint-Goodridge Hospital of
Dillard University and Dillard University (National Register of
Historic Places)
Report Summary
Purpose: A grant will allow the university to
assemble detailed documentation on their historic buildings and
landscape, creating a basis for future rehabilitation projects.
Strengthen the University Archives and Special Collections, and
“establish renovation standards that will preserve the
distinguishing characteristics of the historic campus.”
Historic Designation: The university hospital,
once part of the campus, is listed individually on the National
Register of Historic Places. The campus and its 11 historic
buildings have been listed on the register since 2003.
A historically black private college chartered in 1930, Dillard
University occupies a unified, axially designed campus in the Beaux
Arts tradition. The 10 white brick buildings that comprise the
historic campus surround a large open quadrangle delineated by two
long rows of live oak trees, the Avenue of the Oaks. Moise H.
Goldstein served the campus as designer and architect 1930-62,
assisted by son Louis Goldstein, Frederick D. Parham, F. Monroe
Labouisse Sr.; his firm continues in that role. William S. Wiedorn
designed at least some of the landscaping.
Dillard arose from the 1928 merger of Straight College and New
Orleans University. Fully half the capital campaign came from The
Rosenwald Foundation (funded by Julius Rosenwald, leader 1908-32 of
Sears, Roebuck & Co.). In 1942, Dillard’s Flint-Goodridge
Hospital offered Louisiana’s first accredited program for
nurses
Site list--buildings (all by Moise Goldstein use the formal,
symmetrical style of Classical Revival):
- Flint-Goodridge Hospital (1932, Art Deco; designed by Moise H.
Goldstein; 1960, 1964, 1968 expansions) (sold and no longer part of
campus)
- Rosenwald Hall aka Library and Academic Building (library,
classroom, administrative) (1934, painted brick, Georgian Revival,
designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1967 expansion designed by Parham
and Labouisse (formerly Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse); 2003
renovation designed by Sizeler Architects)
- Power House aka Boiler House / Incinerator (1934, Industrial
Style, designed by Moise H. Goldstein)
- Hartzell Hall (dorm) (1935, painted brick, Georgian Revival
with French Eclectic elements, designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1962
connected to Camphor; expanded 1967 by Parham and Labouisse)
- Straight Hall (dorm) (1935, painted brick, Georgian Revival
with French Eclectic elements, focal point of Moise H. Goldstein’s
symmetrical landscape plan; expanded 1944 and 1957; expansion
removed 2000)
- Kearny Hall (art studios, dining, recreation) (1935, painted
brick, focal point of Moise H. Goldstein’s symmetrical landscape
plan; expanded 1962 by Parham and Labouisse, and 1995 by Mathis
Group; renovated 1999-2001; surrounding landscape designed by
William S. Wiedorn)
- President’s House (1936, painted brick; 1978 expansion removed
1997; newly expanded 1999)
- Howard House aka The Practice House […for homemaking] (guest
house and dorm, now administration) (1936, painted brick, designed
by Moise H. Goldstein; renovation 1945 and 1958 designed by
Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse; converted 1999 by Billes
Manning)
- Main Entrance Gates (1942)
- Williams Hall (dorm) (1946,painted brick, Georgian Revival plus
French Eclectic, designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1957 expansion
designed by Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse; 2000 renovation)
- Camphor Hall (dorm) (1947, painted brick, Georgian Revival plus
French Eclectic, designed by Moise H. Goldstein; 1962 expansion
designed by Moise H. Goldstein with Louis Goldstein; 1970
expansion)
- Stern Hall aka Science Building (natural science) (1952,
painted brick, Georgian Revival designed by Moise H. Goldstein with
input from scientists and science teachers; 1966-67 expansion and
renovation designed by Parham and Labouisse; 2003 renovation
designed by Sizeler Architects)
- Lawless Chapel (1955, designed by Goldstein, Parham and
Labouisse)
- Will W. Alexander Library (1961, painted brick, International
Style with Classical elements; designed by Milton G. Scheuermann
Jr. of Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse) (not eligible for historic
registration, per Secretary of Interior’s standards for
significance)
Site list—landscape features:
- Rosa Freeman Keller Avenue of Oaks (ca. 1938)
- Campus Green
- New Orleans Parkway Commission Gateway (1935) (outside the
identified historic district)
- Sculptural Element in Circular Island, behind Parkway
Commission Gateway (1935) (outside the identified historic
district)
- Primary Gateway (1943)
- Flagpole in front of Kearney Hall, within Avenue of Oaks
(1943)
- Dillard Sign at Warrington Park Gateway (ca. 1952), embedded in
an evergreen hedge
- Duck Pond (1999 restoration by Terradesign) (outside the
identified historic district)
- No longer existing: President’s Garden; Entry Roundabout
- Vegetation—Oaks, Crape Myrtles, etc.
- Furnishings and pathways:
- Light Standard—Acorn Globe, Concrete Fluted Post
- Bench—Concrete benches at Duck Pond
- Concrete Walkways
- Campus Drives
Planning Process:
Review illustrations of previous campus plans:
- 1933-35 Services and Distributions Plan by Moise H.
Goldstein
- 1941 Plan Showing General Utilities, designs by Moise H.
Goldstein
- Aerial photographs, 1943 and later
- Dillard University Site Improvements for the Women’s Part of
the Campus by architect Moise H. Goldstein and landscape architect
William S. Wiedorn
Collect drawings of the historic buildings, then catalogue and
scan them for the University Archives
Survey campus buildings, and historic building assessment by
Clement & Wynn with Beth Grashof
Apply Secretary of the Interior’s standards for significance to
the current Dillard campus, create appropriate recommendations for
future campus development
Outcomes: Products:
Digitized collection of historic drawings, catalogued and
available for research
Outcomes: Policies and Plans:
Focus on Rehabilitation and Restoration
Unique Features:
Full c.v. for the main campus architect
Advisors:
Clement & Wynn Program Managers
with
Beth Grashof: Grashof Design Studio, Architectural/Historical
Preservation
The Jaeger Company, Landscape Architecture and Historic
Preservation
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