Kane Hall: A Modern Hub Rooted in University of Washington History
Kane Hall, a starkly Modern teaching and auditorium building on the University of Washington (UW) campus, stands as a testament to the institution's architectural evolution and its commitment to serving the community. Completed in 1971, Kane Hall is an integral part of the central campus and a key feature of Red Square. Its history is intertwined with the university's growth, architectural trends, and dedication to providing a space for learning, dialogue, and cultural enrichment.
The Genesis of Kane Hall: A Response to Growth
In the early 1960s, the University of Washington experienced significant growth, necessitating the expansion of its facilities. In early 1967, the Regents approved a new classroom/lecture hall/auditorium building, undergraduate library, and performing arts center, following a development plan a year earlier. The approval was followed by the allotment of $7.6 million in state funds, which was approved by the legislature, for capital construction to include the new classroom/lecture hall. Voters approved Referendum 15 in November, adding $2.6 million in funding. To expedite the construction of the buildings and central plaza, a single general contractor was selected by the University of Washington, Sellen Construction of Seattle. Kane Hall was the first of three Modern era buildings to be located on the Central Plaza, followed by the construction of a new undergraduate library in 1972 (later named Odegaard Undergraduate Library at the retirement of University President Charles Odegaard, and known as the UGL) and Meany Hall (1974). This expansion project aimed to create a modern learning environment while also enhancing the central campus area.
Architectural Identity: Brutalism on Red Square
Designed by the Spokane-based firm of Walker McGough Foltz Lyerla-Peden, Kane Hall embodies the Brutalist architectural style, which was prominently displayed in many UW buildings erected during the heyday of campus funding in the late 1960s. The firm led by Bruce Walker and John McGough, Architects, AIA, added partners to its title while Kane Hall was being planned and built, meaning the commission was gained first by Walker and McGough and completed by the firm Walker McGough Foltz Lyerla-Peden, Architects and Engineers. Characterized by its bold use of reinforced concrete, crisp geometry, and minimal appearance, Brutalism aimed to express the building's structure and materials in a raw and unadorned manner.
The Brutalism of Kane Hall's exterior was calculated to contrast with the ornate Gothic styling of that of nearby Suzzallo Library, providing a subtle foil to the older and more elaborate centerpiece of Red Square. Norman Johnston observed, however, that Kane Hall's piers echoed spacing of openings of Suzzallo. He wrote in 1995: "The rhythm of the piers does suggest a consciousness of the similar structural module in Suzzallo Library, to the east." The building's design also drew inspiration from Italian Rationalist architects of the 1930s, such as Giuseppe Terragni's Casa del Fascio (1932-1936) in Como, Italy. There was a revival of interest in Italian Rationalism during the 1960s, a movement known as "La Tendenza," with Aldo Rossi (1931-1997) being the best-known practitioner in the US.
Kane Hall is part of a building assembly, along with the Central Quad. Together they represent the late mid-century history of the University of Washington development and Brutalist style architecture.
Read also: Penn State Performance Recap
Red Square: The Heart of the Campus
Kane Hall's location on the north side of Red Square, officially Central Plaza or the Suzzallo Quadrangle, is significant. Red Square serves as a central hub for the campus, connecting the northern Liberal Arts Quadrangle ("The Quad") with the science and engineering buildings on the lower campus. In 1969, the field was excavated to construct an underground parking garage; the engineers who designed the garage thought that the rain on the grass would leak into the garage, leading to the choice of a distinctive red brick surface. Cassandra Amesely, then an editor of the student paper The Daily, convinced the student population to refer to the area as Red Square, presumably in reference to the color of the brick. The northwest area of the square is dominated by three adjacent brick monoliths; one to ventilate the underground garage and the other two for aesthetic reasons. The northeast corner of the square features a version of Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk sculpture. Steps to the southeast lead down Rainier Vista to Drumheller Fountain, aligned with Mount Rainier. A 1909 bronze statue of George Washington is below the west entrance, facing west toward The Brothers of the Olympic Mountains. The central quad received accolades from the local Board of Realtors for its design (Seattle Times, December 2, 1973).
Interior Spaces: Functionality and Art
Kane Hall houses a variety of classrooms, meeting spaces, and auditoriums, designed to accommodate diverse academic activities. Three of the lecture halls contain seating for 230 and 245, while the largest auditoria - Rooms 120 and 130 -contain 440 and 720 seats respectively in tall banked spaces, one with a balcony. The building’s primary facade faces southwest and features a cast-in-place concrete loggia, supported on heavy piers, with tall windows above. The space within it provides public circulation for large numbers. The volume level rises in places from the first floor to the underside of the roof with wide stairs at each end and bridges at the second floor leading across a void to reach the lecture halls on the north side of the primary corridor.
The building also features the Roethke Auditorium, named for the renowned UW poet Theodore Roethke (1908-1963), who drowned tragically at the age of 55. The Walker-Ames Room, a large meeting and reception hall named for the Walker Ames Family, generous donors to the UW, is illuminated by south-facing windows lining Red Square. This family also donated their 1907 residence for use as the UW President's House.
Adding to the building's artistic significance, a mural by American-Mexican artist Pablo O’Higgins hangs on the north wall of the upper floor. Painted in 1945 for a local maritime labor union, the mural originally adorned their labor hall until the building was scheduled for demolition in ca. 1959. It was donated to the UW but not displayed and restored until the mid-1970s. It has hung in Kane Hall since 1977. He became an instant devotee of Mexican art and Diego Rivera in particular. O’Higgins worked with Rivera on several installations. O’Higgins is known both for his artistic achievements as well as his political and social activism.
A Carillon's Voice: The Gordon Stuart Peek Foundation Carillon
Adding a unique auditory dimension to Kane Hall, the Gordon Stuart Peek Foundation Carillon was installed atop the building in the fall. The carillon - 47 bells in total - sits atop Kane Hall and is a gift from UW alumnus Gordon Peek. A carillon is an instrument made up of a chorus of bells accompanied by an organ-like keyboard, said Wesley Arai, the carillonneur, or player. The instrument spans four octaves with bells that range from about the size of a flower pot and fewer than 20 pounds up to 5 feet across, weighing more than 1,500 pounds. Peek earned both undergraduate and advanced degrees at the UW and eventually would teach history here. In 2008, Peek donated the bells atop Gerberding Hall. Those bells operate differently than the carillon. Rather than being played by a keyboard-like instrument, Gerberding’s bells are played by a team of so-called change ringers who sound the peals by pulling on cords in a coordinated fashion. Bells have a unifying, uplifting sound that inspires all who hear them, Peek said.
Read also: Explore Haas Hall Academy
Named for a Leader: Thomas Franklin Kane
Kane Hall was named for Thomas Franklin Kane (1863-1953), a lawyer and scholar of Latin and Greek languages, who served as the UW's fourteenth President between 1902 and 1914. He was forced out by the Regents and replaced by Henry Suzzallo (1873-1933).
A Legacy of Learning and Dialogue: The History Lecture Series
Kane Hall has become synonymous with intellectual engagement through events like the History Lecture Series. In 1975, newly retired professor of history, Giovanni Costigan, held the first History Lecture Series. Costigan, a very well-known part of the UW community, began the series as a way to bring history to the wider community and to spark dialogue around important topics. In the 1990s, Professor Jon Bridgman took up the mantle and carried the series into a new century. After his retirement, the faculty of the department chose to carry on what had by that time become a beloved UW tradition.
The History Lecture Series, often held in Roethke Auditorium (Kane Hall 130), explores diverse historical topics, fostering critical thinking and community engagement. Recent series have delved into themes such as incarceration, examining its historical roots and contemporary implications.
Convocation and Celebration
Kane Hall also serves as a venue for important academic ceremonies. The Department of History Convocation, for example, is held annually in Kane Hall 130. The celebration includes a welcome by the departmental chair, keynote speech by historian and beloved librarian Nancy Pearl, student speeches, calling of student names, and the presentation of graduating students.
Read also: Explore the history of Alumni Hall in Boone
tags: #Kane #Hall #University #of #Washington #history
