The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

Administration Building

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Administration Building (ca. 1935), John Carroll University

Administration Building (ca. 2003), John Carroll University

Administration Building (Grasselli Tower), John Carroll University

Institution Name: John Carroll University
Original/Historic Place Name: Main Building
Location on Campus:
Date(s) of Construction:

1931-1935

original construction; April 7, 1931--October 7, 1935 Small, Philip L.

Designer: Philip L. Small
Type of Place: Individual building
Style: Gothic revival, Other (Glossary)
Significance: architecture, education, history, religion
Narrative: see below
References: see below

Materials:

Foundation: concrete

Walls: brick, limestone

Roof: slate, copper

Function:

ca. 1935	academic department building (science)
ca. 1935	gymnasium
ca. 1935	dining hall
ca. 1935	library
ca. 1935-present (2006)	classrooms
ca. 1935-present (2006)	auditorium
ca. 1935-present (2006)	administration
ca. 2004-present (2006)	academic department building (School of Business)

Narrative:
The Main Building was part of the original group of buildings constructed for a new university to be
located on the east side of Cleveland. The move from the west side was intended to be not just a
change of geographical location, but also a matter of providing the location and facilities for an
institution that would "develop into a leading Catholic university of the Midwest."

Although construction of the Main Building was suspended in January 1932, completion of the Grasselli Tower in April 1932 still marked an important occasion because it signified that the "dreams of Carroll [were] becoming reality."

References:

Gavin, Donald P. John Carroll University: A Century of Service. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1985.