The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

L. J. Mims Auditorium

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L. J. Mims Auditorium, Howard Payne University

Institution Name: Howard Payne University
Original/Historic Place Name: Auditorium and Fine Arts Building
Location on Campus: 1006 Center Ave.
Date(s) of Construction:

1922	original construction Mims, L. J.

Designer: L. J. Mims
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Beaux-Arts classicism (Glossary)
Significance: culture, education
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: concrete

Walls: red brick

Roof: composition

Function:

ca. 1922-1950	administration (office of the President, business office)
1922-1998	academic department building (fine arts faculty studios)
1922-present (2006)	auditorium (originally seated over 1000, now 700)
1922-present (2006)	chapel

Narrative:
The Auditorium and Fine Arts Building, as it was originally known, was designed by the college president, Dr. L. J. Mims, as a combination building to function as a chapel/auditorium and to provide office space for the president and business office and studio space for the fine arts department. Opened in 1922, it is the oldest extant building on the main campus and continues to serve as the chapel/auditorium to the present day. It originally seated over 1000 and today seats 700; it has been refurnished several times. In the 1950s the president's office and business office were moved to other locations. When the Davidson Music Complex was completed in 1998, the music faculty offices and studios were moved from the building as well.

References: