herr2ck: Phagocytosis

August 2025.

The Journalism Building looks like a baby Baker Systems, its neighbor across the way, and they were in fact designed by the same architect. What I didn’t know, though, is that the building is an instance of an existing structure being gutted and redesigned in a newer style, which was ubiquitous during the mid-century era but pretty rare on campus. (The only other project I can think of that does this is the ongoing engineering campus renovations, which are doing the same to the Mid-Century Modern Fontana and MacQuigg Labs.)

The Journalism Building is located within the engineering sector of north campus, attached to Caldwell Lab to the north and bordered by Cockins Hall and the Mathematics Building to the south, Scott Lab to the east, and Baker Systems and Dreese Labs to the west.

History

The Journalism Building under construction in 1924. (Buckeye Stroll)

The Journalism Building was designed in 1923 by university architect Joseph N. Bradford in a pretty spartan Stripped Classical style. The original building was built with a concrete frame and brick exterior. Construction began in July and concluded a year later in 1924. The Lantern began printing in the building in July 1924.

The Journalism Building’s original footprint.

The Journalism Building as it appeared in the 1960s. (Knowlton Archives)

University architect Howard Dwight Smith designed an addition in 1938, which hugged the original building to the north and west. This area holds the post office. Its construction started that October and the addition’s final estimates were approved by November 6, 1939. A smaller second addition, which is now part of Caldwell Lab, was built immediately afterwards and finished on April 18, 1940.

The Journalism Building after its first and second additions.

The University Print Shop, which was housed in the Journalism Building from its construction, moved to Kenny Road off-campus in 1968.

Proposed perspective view of Croce and Abbot’s modifications to the Journalism Building c. 1968. Note the greater height, larger footprint, and different concrete piers. (Knowlton Archives)

In 1971, Croce and Abbot’s plans for an addition were approved. Designed in a much different Mid-Century Modern style, it added a significant amount of space to the building and obscured almost all traces of the original, as much of the façade was engulfed by the new design. It was widened by about ¼ the original size and a third floor was added. John Herrick didn’t note a date of completion, but the School of Journalism moved in during December 1973, despite the building being unfinished. Its dedication was on September 19-21, 1974. This brought the Journalism Building to its current size of 49,591 square feet.

The Journalism Building’s first (left) and second (right) floors after their modification.

The Journalism Building as it was built, undated. (Buckeye Stroll)

The Journalism Building was renovated in 2010 by Annette Miller Architects, Inc. They modernized the lobby and interior, upgraded an unused library space to offices for the College of Arts and Sciences, and converted an old TV production studio into a large lecture hall.

Photos

Looking southeast at the western façade:

See what I mean about it appearing identical to Baker Systems? They have the same expression (piers and boxy Modern design), materiality, fenestration, and massing.

Another view northeast:

It’s hard to see with all the foliage, but this part of the south façade is entirely brick. How boring.

Nice cantilever, though:

At least this part has windows, albeit tiny, punched ones:

Detail:

The sloping sills are kind of odd, too.

This area is where the university’s post office is located:

I think this area in the loading dock is the only recognizable portion of the original building:

Note the differently-colored brick and older windows.

I liked this view down the piers:

This building does have its flaws, but this is my favorite part.

Here’s a standard hallway inside the building:

It’s obviously been updated at some point, as the floor, painted CMU walls, and troffers seem a little too new for this 1970s renovation. Here is the more recently renovated study area: