Difference between revisions of "Hamilton Hall"
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[[Image:HamiltonFront.jpg|thumb|300px|Hamilton Hall]] | [[Image:HamiltonFront.jpg|thumb|300px|Hamilton Hall]] | ||
| − | '''Hamilton Hall''' is where many humanities classes, especially those in the [[Core Curriculum]], are held. The building is named after famed Columbia dropout [[Alexander Hamilton]], whose visage graces a smart statue out front. | + | '''Hamilton Hall''' is the headquarters of [[Columbia College]], and as such is where many humanities classes, especially those in the [[Core Curriculum]], are held. The building is named after famed Columbia dropout [[Alexander Hamilton]], whose visage graces a smart statue out front. |
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| + | ==History== | ||
When the University moved to [[Morningside Heights]] in [[1897]], it 'forgot' to dedicate any of the buildings on the campus to the [[Columbia College|College]]. When a building was requested, they were basically told to "get your own." The alumni hemmed and hawed and despite lots of talk, couldn't come up with the money (a recurring theme in Columbia history. See: [[History of the Morningside Heights campus#University Hall|University Hall]], [[History of the Morningside Heights campus#The Morningside Park Gymnasium|Morningside Park Gym]].) Eventually some New York philanthropist who isn't even connected to Columbia donated the money to erect a building. His name is inscribed on the floor of Hamilton's lobby. By this point there wasn't even any space left on the original campus, which only consisted of the area between [[116th Street|116th]] and 120th streets. It wasn't until 190? that Columbia bought the next two empty blocks to keep encroaching developement from arriving at their front steps. It was on this new plot of land that, in [[1907]], the College's building was finally built. | When the University moved to [[Morningside Heights]] in [[1897]], it 'forgot' to dedicate any of the buildings on the campus to the [[Columbia College|College]]. When a building was requested, they were basically told to "get your own." The alumni hemmed and hawed and despite lots of talk, couldn't come up with the money (a recurring theme in Columbia history. See: [[History of the Morningside Heights campus#University Hall|University Hall]], [[History of the Morningside Heights campus#The Morningside Park Gymnasium|Morningside Park Gym]].) Eventually some New York philanthropist who isn't even connected to Columbia donated the money to erect a building. His name is inscribed on the floor of Hamilton's lobby. By this point there wasn't even any space left on the original campus, which only consisted of the area between [[116th Street|116th]] and 120th streets. It wasn't until 190? that Columbia bought the next two empty blocks to keep encroaching developement from arriving at their front steps. It was on this new plot of land that, in [[1907]], the College's building was finally built. | ||
| − | At the turn of the Millenium Hamilton got a major makeover. Many of its classrooms were gutted and renovated (many of the rooms have sponsors, look for the placques outside each room). The lobby also got a major facelift, though no one read that memo that plain plaster walls and columns aren't really that impressive. However, Dean [[Austin Quigley|Quigley]] did manage to dig up two awesome stained glass windows to have installed in the lobby.<ref>[http://media.www.columbiaspectator.com/media/storage/paper865/news/2003/10/13/News/New-Windows.Cap.Hamilton.Renovations-2035963.shtml New Windows Cap Hamilton Renovations - The Spectator 10-13-03]</ref> | + | At the turn of the Millenium, Hamilton got a major makeover. Many of its classrooms were gutted and renovated (many of the rooms have sponsors, look for the placques outside each room). The lobby also got a major facelift, though no one read that memo that plain plaster walls and columns aren't really that impressive. However, Dean [[Austin Quigley|Quigley]] did manage to dig up two awesome stained glass windows to have installed in the lobby.<ref>[http://media.www.columbiaspectator.com/media/storage/paper865/news/2003/10/13/News/New-Windows.Cap.Hamilton.Renovations-2035963.shtml New Windows Cap Hamilton Renovations - The Spectator 10-13-03]</ref> |
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| + | ==Idiosyncracies== | ||
Having a class on the upper reaches of the building sentences one to an excruciating stair climb or a long wait for a tiny elevator. Students, have been known to select [[Literature Humanities|Lit Hum]] and [[Contemporary Civilization|CC]] classes solely on the basis of the least flights of stairs to climb. | Having a class on the upper reaches of the building sentences one to an excruciating stair climb or a long wait for a tiny elevator. Students, have been known to select [[Literature Humanities|Lit Hum]] and [[Contemporary Civilization|CC]] classes solely on the basis of the least flights of stairs to climb. | ||
Revision as of 22:57, 19 November 2007
Hamilton Hall is the headquarters of Columbia College, and as such is where many humanities classes, especially those in the Core Curriculum, are held. The building is named after famed Columbia dropout Alexander Hamilton, whose visage graces a smart statue out front.
History
When the University moved to Morningside Heights in 1897, it 'forgot' to dedicate any of the buildings on the campus to the College. When a building was requested, they were basically told to "get your own." The alumni hemmed and hawed and despite lots of talk, couldn't come up with the money (a recurring theme in Columbia history. See: University Hall, Morningside Park Gym.) Eventually some New York philanthropist who isn't even connected to Columbia donated the money to erect a building. His name is inscribed on the floor of Hamilton's lobby. By this point there wasn't even any space left on the original campus, which only consisted of the area between 116th and 120th streets. It wasn't until 190? that Columbia bought the next two empty blocks to keep encroaching developement from arriving at their front steps. It was on this new plot of land that, in 1907, the College's building was finally built.
At the turn of the Millenium, Hamilton got a major makeover. Many of its classrooms were gutted and renovated (many of the rooms have sponsors, look for the placques outside each room). The lobby also got a major facelift, though no one read that memo that plain plaster walls and columns aren't really that impressive. However, Dean Quigley did manage to dig up two awesome stained glass windows to have installed in the lobby.[1]
Idiosyncracies
Having a class on the upper reaches of the building sentences one to an excruciating stair climb or a long wait for a tiny elevator. Students, have been known to select Lit Hum and CC classes solely on the basis of the least flights of stairs to climb.
Empty Hamilton rooms are open for studying in the evenings during finals, and are often used as club meeting spaces during the semester.
Department offices
- American Studies
- Ancient Studies
- Asian-American Studies (Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race)
- Classics
- Comparative Ethnic Studies (Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race)
- Germanic Languages and Literatures
- Italian
- Latino Studies (Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race)
- Slavic Languages and Literatures
Other offices
- Center for the Core Curriculum
- Office of the Dean of Columbia College
- Office of Undergraduate Admissions
