herr2ck: Classicism Without The Columns

September 2025.

Mershon Auditorium, Ohio State’s largest venue for performances besides the Schottenstein Center, is an example of the Stripped Classicism style of architecture. The building references the classical orders, proportions, and materiality, yet its expression and ornamentation are much more severe. Indeed, much of the walls are bare masonry, relieved only by the massive north clock and east relief of “THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY.”

Mershon Auditorium is located on the very eastern edge of campus, adjacent to the Oval. It is bordered by the Wexner Center’s landscaping and Arps Hall to the north, Sullivant Hall to the south, High Street and University Square North to the east, and it is attached to the Wexner Center and Weigel Hall to the west.

Prior to the construction of Mershon Auditorium, the site was occupied by the Rickly House and Thomas House.

Rickly House History

Historic photo of the Rickly House. (Knowlton Archives)

The Rickly House was built by Joseph Strickler, a monument maker, who wanted a large house in the country for his family. Its construction date is unknown, but its plans were drawn before 1856. It had a limestone foundation, wood frame, and brick exterior. The house is rather eclectic--it has Gothic Revival (steeply peaked gable at right that’s partially obscured by the tree), Italianate (tower, porch, vaulted windows), and vernacular (remainder of house) features. It was sold to J. J. Rickly in 1866, a miller, who transferred the house and the 10.5 acres of land it sat on to the university in February 1871.

The Rickly House served as the first university president’s house until 1926, when the purpose-built president’s house on campus (now Kuhn House) was completed, since High Street was perceived as too busy for a residence. After that, it was remodeled for the Department of Music, who then used the building until Hughes Hall was finished in 1949. The house was demolished by the end of that year.

Thomas House/Faculty Residence History

The Thomas House, undated. (Historic Campus Map)

The Thomas House was designed in 1882 by J. T. Harris in the Queen Anne style. It was built starting in August of that year and probably finished in late 1882 or early 1883. It was located on the southeast corner of the Oval’s green space today (which did not yet exist). The house was built as a faculty residence, in tandem with the adjacent Knight House. Some notable occupants were Thomas Mendenhall, A. C. Barrows, and B. F. Thomas.

In 1902, the Board of Trustees voted to move the house to High Street. It was remodeled in 1912 to accommodate showers and locker rooms, and during this period it was known as the “Athletic House.”

In 1931 or 1932, the Department of Music used space inside the house until Hughes Hall was completed. Thomas House was likewise demolished in 1949.

Mershon Auditorium History

Mershon Auditorium under construction c. 1955-1957. (Knowlton Archives)

Mershon Auditorium was designed in 1954 by Bellman, Gillett, and Richards. The building has a steel frame clad in limestone and brick. Its construction began in early 1955, and the building was dedicated on April 29, 1957. The brick portion on the west side of the building (visible above) was intended to be removed after a later addition, and it was after the construction of Weigel Hall in 1977.

Though the exterior of the building is classically inspired, the interior would not look out of place within an orthodox Modern composition. The materiality and details are very similar to designs from that era across campus.

Mershon Auditorium’s lobby, undated. (Knowlton Archives)

The stage in 1958. (Buckeye Stroll)

Weigel Hall was originally built as an addition to Mershon Auditorium, but it received its own name and was considered a separate building shortly afterwards. Additionally, for the construction of the Wexner Center, Mershon’s original loading dock had to be relocated, which occurred in 1985.

I believe Mershon Auditorium has been left unaltered since its construction. Beyond a coat of gray paint over the original cream, the theater and lobby appear almost identical to how they did in the 1950s.

Today, Mershon Auditorium is used for various performances. As a member of the university’s Symphonic Band when I was a freshman, I performed on stage there for some big band showcase thing. (I regret not getting photos of the back-of-house areas and interior, which I had access to at the time.) It also hosts concerts occasionally.

Mershon Auditorium is named after Colonel Ralph Mershon, who graduated from Ohio State with a degree in electrical engineering in 1890. He became very wealthy from the patents he held, leaving $7.5 million to the university. Mershon asked that half the money be used to fund military studies and the other half be used at the Board of Trustees’ discretion. Using this fund, the board paid for the construction of Mershon Auditorium.

Photos

Looking southwest at Mershon Auditorium from High Street:

The east facade is largely empty masonry walls:

There’s a subtle pattern to the stone bond, which along with the two cornices is the sole decorative feature.

Massive carved sign:

Classic Modern-era monumentality melded with the engraved friezes of classical architecture. Another look through the trees:

The back-of-house area is the only place with windows:

The entrance portico is a typical Modern design--sheet metal roof over two square granite pillars.

The south facade is dominated by the three central windows:

The portion surrounding it is slightly recessed and has a convex curvature to it. The window openings and frieze above are supported by four massive pilasters.