The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Ryland Hall

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Ryland Hall (ground floor plan), University of Richmond

Institution Name: University of Richmond
Original/Historic Place Name: Ryland Hall
Location on Campus: 2 Ryland Circle
Date(s) of Construction:

1912-1914	original construction Cram, Ralph Adams
1973	modernization
1989-1990	modernization "reversed"

Designer: Ralph Adams Cram
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Gothic revival, Other (Glossary)
Significance: architecture
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: concrete

Walls: masonry (brick and limestone)

Roof: slate

Function:

ca. 1914	other (offices)
ca. 1914	library
ca. 1914	administration
ca. 1914	classrooms
ca. 1914	old main
ca. 2004-present (2006)	academic department building (English and history)

Narrative:
Ryland Hall was the central building in Ralph Adams Cram's plan for the university. It accommodated the main elements of the academic program, remaining substantially unchanged until 1973 when it was somewhat modernized. These changes were reversed in a comprehensive restoration in 1989/1990. Today, the building is remarkable for the way it accommodates a contemporary educational program in a historic, inspirational setting.

The building typifies Cram's vision for education in a Gothic setting. He accomplished this using a southeastern regional variant of his collegiate Gothic vocabulary. In particular, he executed this building (and others) utilizing the strong southeastern brick building tradition rather than the random ashlar (stone) vocabulary he employed at the U.S. Military Academy, Princeton and elsewhere.

Today, the building remains a prominent feature of the principal academic quadrangle, serving long and well in its important academic role.

References: