Timelines - continued
The design department was housed in the
basement of the Allyn Building the first year. When
Morris Library was built the upper floors were empty
and the design department moved to the 4th floor
in 1958. The 4th floor was unfinished raw concrete
walls and pillars.
In 1960 the department moved to a group of four
World War II barracks that were on the western side
of the campus (across Campus Circle Drive from the
Communication Building). Four 39-foot diameter
wood Pease Geodesic domes were soon installed
between the barracks.
The space between the center two barracks was
filled with a post and beam experimental structure
that had a cantenary suspension roof made of very
large sheets of Homasote. The floor was asphalt. This
central exhibit space was soon known as the “space
between.”
Starting in 1967 the “space between” was
remodeled by architect, Richard Helstern, and a
team of students. Two years later the students
designed a “Frei Otto” style tension tent structure to
replace the original auditorium.
Chart data from Herb Meyer
Deans, chairs, & buildings
Design at Southern Illinois University