The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Weller Hall

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Weller Hall (front facade), Concordia University (NE)

Institution Name: Concordia University (NE)
Original/Historic Place Name: Weller Hall
Location on Campus: 800 N. Columbia Ave
Date(s) of Construction:

1925	original construction
1952	addition of auditorium/chapel

Designer: unknown
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Gothic revival, Beaux-Arts classicism (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, education
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: brick

Walls: concrete masonry

Roof: steel deck on steel joists

Function:

ca. 1925	library
ca. 1925	other (AV center)
ca. 1925	theater (drama area)
ca. 1925	museum (Koenig Art Gallery)
1925-present (2006)	other (7.3 foot high tower, tower room for hospitality)
1925-present (2006)	faculty offices (and staff offices)
ca. 1925-present (2006)	administration
1925-present (2006)	classrooms
1952-present (2006)	auditorium (plus costume and dressing rooms; seats 567)
1952-present (2006)	chapel (has two pipe organs; seats 567)
ca. 2004-present (2006)	other (conference rooms)

Narrative:
Weller Hall was originally constructed in 1925. The building is named for Concordia's first President, Rev. George Weller. The auditorium/chapel addition was constructed in 1952. This room is used for daily chapel services, concerts, convocations, drama productions, movies and other events. The building also accomodates administrative offices and classrooms. Weller Hall is constructed of concrete masonry units for bearing, foundation, and partition walls. The floor systems are concrete slabs on steel deck on steel joints. The roof system is steel deck on steel joists. The chapel addition roof structure is steel joist girders and steel deck. The building has been renovated numerous times to accomodate changing functions.

References:

Campus Master Plan. January 2001. Archives, Concordia University, Seward, NE.

Moulds, Kristine M. Generations of Sowers Sharing the Word: A Centennial History of Concordia College, Seward, Nebraska. Virginia Beach, VA: Donning Co., c1994.