The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Hendren Hall

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Hendren Hall, Albertson College of Idaho

Institution Name: Albertson College of Idaho
Original/Historic Place Name: Student Union Building (SUB)
Location on Campus: 2112 Cleveland Blvd.
Date(s) of Construction:

1958	original design Hummel, Hummel & Jones
2001	redesign ZGA Planners & Architects

Designer: Hummel, Hummel & Jones (Boise, ID); ZGA Planners & Architects (Boise, ID)
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Modern/post-WWII (Glossary)
Significance: education, history
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: concrete slab

Walls: brick

Roof: built up

Function:

1958	student union (student service offices, campus mail center, snack bar, bookstore, ballroom, campus publication offices, barber shop, game room, student senate meeting rooms)
1958-present (2006)	infirmary (nurse)
2001-present (2006)	student union
2001-present (2006)	administration (registrar, student financial aid)
2001-present (2006)	admissions office (and welcome center)

Narrative:
The historic appearance of the original building was completely altered by the remodeling. A pedestrian one-level brick structure, purely functional and almost devoid of aesthetic qualities, was upgraded by the addition of an Italianate two-story bell tower highlighting the main entryway, plus other design motifs to the building's cornice and other entries.

The building is significant owing to the role played by the new namesake and principle donor. Robert L. Hendren, Jr., ninth president of the college (1987 to 1999), was instrumental in rescuing the school from financial disaster and subsequently building a substantial endowment. He also obtained funding for two major additions to the physical assets of the school.

References:

Attebery, Louie W. Albertson College of Idaho: The Second Hundred Years. Caldwell, ID: Albertson College of Idaho, 1999.

Attebery, Louie W. The College of Idaho 1891-1991: A Centennial History. Caldwell, ID: Caxton Publishers, 1991.