The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Lowry Center "The Pit"

Click on image titles for larger views.

Lowry Center (the pit), College of Wooster

Institution Name: College of Wooster
Original/Historic Place Name: Lowry Center
Location on Campus: 1189 Beall Ave.
Date(s) of Construction:

1969	original construction; October 10, 1969 Schooley Cornelius Schooley

Designer: Schooley Cornelius Schooley
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Modern/post-WWII (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, culture, education, engineering, history
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation:

Walls:

Roof:

Function:

1969-present (2006)

student union

Narrative:
Having a centralized student union building with all student mailboxes and a large dining hall represents the College's intention to build a unified student community. Few places are as central to this effort as the Lowry "pit," a cozy gathering spot in the main lounge of the student union that serves as the natural location for important town meetings, debates, and other such manifestations of an active student community.

Lowry Center (1968) is named in honor of the late President Howard Lowry. The "pit" is located on the main floor and contains a beautiful circular copper-hooded fireplace and a sunken conversation pit. (Wooster Alumni Magazine, Feb. 1968). The Lowry Center "pit" continues to be the living room for the entire campus.

References: