Clemson's Lee Hall/Lowry Hall listed on National Register of Historic Places
June 2, 2010
CLEMSON, SC – June 2, 2010 – One of Clemson University’s modernspaces now is one of America’s historic places.
The National Park Service has placed Clemson University’s Lee Hall/LowryHall complex on the National Register of Historic Places.
Constructed in 1957-58 as the Structural Science Building, the modernistLee/Lowry complex now is considered two buildings connected by acovered breezeway.
With his design, the late architect and educator Harlan McClure droppedon South Carolina soil the first really good example of modernarchitecture in the International Style.
I remember the first time I saw Lee/Lowry Hall. I had never seen afiner example of modern architecture. It served as a model for all ofthe students studying architecture,” said Clemson President James F.Barker, who was an architecture student during McClure’s tenure.
Above photo: Abust of Harlan McClure is on display in thecourtyard. image by:Clemson University
Hired in 1955 to head the department of architecture, then in theCollege of Engineering, McClure (1916-2001) later became the first deanof architecture at Clemson.
Bob Bainbridge, who taught city and regional planning and landscapearchitecture in Lee Hall for 22 years, said the Structural ScienceBuilding reflected not only McClure’s approach to architecture, but alsohis philosophy on teaching.
“The design of the architectural wing was firmly rooted in HarlanMcClure’s approach to architectural education,” said Bainbridge, whonominated the building for historic designation. “He believed thatartists and architects should collaborate on most, if not all projects,so studios on the main floor were artists’ studios. To encourage freeinterchange among architecture students, design studios on the upperfloor were open-plan spaces with few interior partitions. The exhibitionspace/gallery was both a place for presentations of student art anddesign projects but also a place for interaction with the generalpublic. “
Under McClure’s leadership, the architecture program rose from obscurityto national prominence, and the Lee/Lowry complex was fundamental tothat success, according to Bainbridge.
“Because of its audacity, Lee Hall became a marketing piece todemonstrate the advanced state of architectural education at Clemson andstrongly influenced more than a generation of students andpractitioners. It is still fundamental to our now-numerous programs,”Bainbridge said.
Lee continues to be home to graduate and undergraduate programs inarchitecture; art; city and regional planning; construction science andmanagement; landscape architecture; real estate development; and adoctorate program in planning, design and the built environment. Lowryis home to civil engineering.
Lee Hall was expanded in 1975 and again in 1991, and ground was brokenin April to expand, restore and renovate the building. The $31 millioneffort is funded by private support and federal money.
The expansion portion of the project is a 55,000-square-foot building atthe south end of the existing structure.
The additions pose no threat to the building’s newly acquired historicstatus, said Paul Borick, one of Clemson’s capital projects managersoverseeing the expansion and renovation. The new construction will beattached to the 1991 addition.
