herr2ck: B & Z

Photos from March-November 2024.

Jennings Hall is one of those Frankensteiny buildings on campus that has been extensively added onto over the years. It has received four major additions since its construction, though the third was demolished to make way for the fourth. Jennings Hall is located on south campus. It lies north of Postle Hall, south of Campbell Hall, east of Aronoff Lab, and west of Neil Avenue and Oxley Hall.

History

Jennings Hall was originally known as the Botany and Zoology Building, a name it held until it was renamed in 2002. John Herrick reports that it was anachronistically known as the “B & Z Building.”

Jennings Hall was designed in 1912 by university architect Joseph N. Bradford in the Jacobethan Revival style, being framed in reinforced concrete and faced in brick. Construction began in April 1913 by Dawson Construction Co. and finished on September 18, 1914.

The Botany and Zoology Building’s original footprint.

The Botany and Zoology Building in 1915, as it was designed by Bradford. (University Photo Archives)

This first phase of the building did not last long--only 18 years--and the facade as it was originally designed is partially lost. I do think that the current third floor and roof were executed in a more aesthetically pleasing way, as the original projecting gables were rather plain and bare. What brought us the main facade of Jennings Hall as we know it was the first addition, which was designed by university architect Howard Dwight Smith in 1930. This expansion added a third floor to the main building, a single-floor addition to the north wing, and completely redesigned the roof. Construction started that December, executed by James I. Barnes, and concluded in June 1932.

The Botany and Zoology Building’s footprint as of 1932.

The Botany and Zoology Building in 1946, showing Smith’s first addition. (University Archives)

Howard Dwight Smith then designed a second addition, which added two floors to his previous north wing and a similar three-story addition on the south wing. Work began in June 1948, by Haig M. Boyajohn & Associates, and the building was ready for occupancy in February 1950.

The footprint of the Botany and Zoology Building after its second addition in 1950.

Undated photo of the Botany and Zoology Building. (CML)

The final addition was designed by university architect W. E. Linch in 1961. It added two three-story structures to the rear of Smith’s additions. Its construction began in April 1961, executed by Garwick & Ross, and finished that November. The only picture I could find was of Campbell Hall with Jennings in the background.

The footprint of the Botany and Zoology Building after W. E. Linch’s addition.

W. E. Linch’s addition to Jennings Hall at far right. (University Archives)

Jennings Hall was renovated most recently in 2005, which I believe added the current prismatic thing to its rear that completely disregards its context. Beyond that final addition, new classrooms were added while preserving the exterior architecture.

Jennings Hall’s current footprint.

In fall 2024, the original copper domes, then green from age, were replaced. I couldn’t find anything online about it, I only witnessed the work being performed.

Jennings Greenhouses History

Jennings Hall also used to have greenhouses, which were built with the original building. They replaced the original campus greenhouses at Botanical Hall.

The original Botany and Zoology Greenhouses, located to the rear of the building in 1915. (College of Arts and Sciences)

A new set was built after Smith’s addition in 1948. They moved further west down 12th Avenue, as the space the original greenhouses occupied was used for the addition. These were demolished in 1991, and the current university greenhouses are on top of the 12th Avenue Garage.

The later campus greenhouses in 1949. (College of Arts and Sciences)

The Botany and Zoology Building was renamed to “Jennings Hall” in 2002, after university president Edward H. Jennings. While at Ohio State, he restructured the undergraduate curriculum and oversaw the construction of buildings like the Wexner Center and the James Cancer Hospital.

Photos

Luckily, I happened to grab a shot of Jennings Hall while it was being renovated earlier this year, and thus the original domes have been documented:

Right after the domes were installed, nice and shiny:

Here’s how the building looks today:

I had to stand in the middle of 12th Avenue’s crosswalk for that one. It was the only way I could get the facade centered.

Heading around the north side, you can see the mish-mash of the various additions:

I liked this little bay window detail.

There’s also this odd glass pavilion thing that sits on the grass outside of the north facade. I have never once seen anybody go inside it, and I have no idea what its purpose is.

On the south side, a clear distinction between the original building and the 1948 addition is visible. I thought the addition was W. E. Linch’s at first, but based on the images I have it had tiny windows, and it was demolished in its entirety to build the 2005 addition.

Now at the extreme southwest end, the trapezoid and odd metal grafting become more visible:

It was next to impossible to get any good photos of the exterior of the thing, because pretty much everything nearby was fenced off. Oh well, it’s ugly anyways.

Between the original building and the new addition out back, there is a courtyard. Apparently, it used to be very pretty, but when I visited they were ripping all of the trees out. I also can’t get over how gross the new metal cladding of the original building is:

I headed back around the front to get some detail shots. Jennings has a lot of applied ornament for a campus building, and I think it deserves to be put in the spotlight. To begin, the second floor’s string courses have little floral rosettes above the piers:

Also noticeable is the subtle detailing of the brick between each window.

Each point and peak of Howard Dwight Smith’s third floor design has a finial atop it:

Notice the crowning balustrade and the fancy gutters (which are either originals or careful reproductions), as well.

Here’s an example of how “one picture is worth 1000 words” as it relates to architecture--the left dome and surrounding elements:

The brickwork becomes more elaborate as it reaches the top--a diamond and row of “soldiers” (the vertical bricks) face the masonry of the tower. The corners are articulated in dressed stone or concrete. The dome and base are octagonal, and the diagonal sides are adorned with exaggerated corbels. The recently restored copper domes are textured and feature interesting latticework. Finally, another finial tops the domes, which probably makes a good lightning rod.

Here’s a straight-on view of the domes:

Why the latticework isn’t symmetrical, I’ll never know. You can also see the balusters take on a different shape at the center. The central pole used to be a flagpole, but it has been emasculated a bit in recent years.

Pre-2002 “scarlet sign,” featuring the leg of some person who stood in the middle of the stairs on their phone for 15 minutes straight, while I paced around waiting for them to get out of my shot:

I really love the classical portal into Jennings Hall. Although it is a typical feature of Joseph N. Bradford’s work, it both draws attention to the entrance and conveys a certain sense of status.

The portal is in the Roman Doric order--the fluted columns with simple capitals and astragals below, pedestals, and architrave with triglyphs are a dead giveaway.

Looks like the cornice needs a little love, though:

Unmolested original wooden doors, too?!

The surprises didn’t stop as soon as I got inside. I’m unsure if it’s original, but it’s there regardless -- dark wood wainscoting!

On the wall to my right, a portrait of Edward Jennings:

A typical first-floor Jennings hallway--very 2005:

Looking up, I noticed this odd design choice--the coffering of the concrete floor slab above has been left exposed:

The main stairway retains its original newel posts and railings:

The first floor is generally classrooms and a few labs, while study spaces are common around the entrance. The second is mostly offices, and unlike the first the wainscoting continues across the entire floor:

Heading up a side stairwell to the third floor, the roof access presented itself:

Very tempting. I noticed this unusual sign on the door to the third floor. It was cropped not only because my reflection was visible, but also because somebody happened to be passing by and gave me the craziest side-eye.

The third floor is way more spartan and seems like it holds the more sensitive labs. It also houses the College of Arts and Sciences Office of Advancement. The first thing I noticed was this huge freezer door:

Maybe that’s where Les Wexner keeps the frozen bodies of his enemies. I bet Kristina Johnson is a Carbonite brick in there right now…

After rounding the corner, loud clanking could be heard, and a door was propped open to reveal this odd machine:

I think it’s an autoclave? My architecture brain is too busy learning words like “crenellation” and “frieze.”

Here’s a fun sight:

Jennings Hall also has a ground floor (one floor beneath the main entrance) and a basement, which aren’t pictured in this post. The ground floor was identical to the first; and the basement, while accessible, seemed like it wasn’t meant for student presence. After concluding inside the original building, I checked out the 2005 addition: