The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Stewart Field House

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Stewart Field House (general view), Southwestern College

Stewart Field House (entrance), Southwestern College

Stewart Field House (view from track), Southwestern College

Stewart Field House (rear view), Southwestern College

Institution Name: Southwestern College
Original/Historic Place Name: Stewart Field House
Location on Campus: south edge of campus on Warren St.
Date(s) of Construction:

1923	original construction
1999	renovation

Designer: unknown
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Regionalist/Vernacular (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, education, religion
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: native stone

Walls: native stone

Roof: asphalt

Function:

ca. 1923-1950	library
ca. 1923-present (2006)	academic department building (athletics)
ca. 1923-present (2006)	gymnasium (currently includes athletic department offices)

Narrative:
Located on the south edge of campus, Stewart Field House has been the home of college athletics, especially basketball and volleyball, for 80 years, and also includes athletic offices. It is one of the oldest, most impressive buildings in Cowley County and has always served as the site of Commencement exercises if inclement weather made exercises in the football stadium impossible.

As with all buildings on campus, native stone dominates, although the irregular stones are quite different from the rectangular stones used in the later buildings, including Christy Hall. A remarkable piece of architecture and engineering, engineers undertaking the renovation in 1999 found the 80-year-old structure, founded on solid rock, to be completely safe and stable. The Field House now sits at the entrance to King Drive, which goes up the hill to Christy Hall and is the automobile entry to the main portion of the campus.

References: