herr2ck: Big Ben

September 2025.

Hamilton Hall is probably my favorite building on medical campus, with its interesting Collegiate Gothic design and large clock tower. Like Starling-Loving Hall, it is a hodgepodge of additions to a smaller original building. However, much of it stands today, and the final product is much clearer compositionally.

Hamilton Hall is located on medical campus, bordered by Postle Hall to the north, 10th Avenue and Newton Hall to the south, Neil Avenue and the Younkin Success Center to the east, and Starling-Loving Hall to the west.

History

Looking northwest at Hamilton Hall. (Knowlton Archives)

Hamilton Hall’s original footprint.

Hamilton Hall was designed in 1922 by university architect Joseph N. Bradford. Its construction began in April 1923, and it was first occupied in autumn 1924. The original portion is the southernmost half of the building that faces Neil Avenue. It was designed in the Collegiate Gothic style, with a concrete frame and brick exterior.

Immediately afterward an addition was designed, which was likewise designed by Bradford in 1923. Its construction began in February 1924, and it was completed by April 1925, though the College of Dentistry moved in in February. This addition extended northwards from the original building, and the two comprise the Neil Avenue facade.

Historic photo of Hamilton Hall’s second addition. (Knowlton Archives)

Hamilton Hall’s footprint after its first addition.

Hamilton Hall’s second addition, which features the iconic clock tower, was designed by Joseph N. Bradford in 1926. Its construction began that February, and the building was completed by April 1927. This portion, like the first addition, was intended for the dental school.

Hamilton Hall after its second addition.

Hamilton Hall’s third addition was a one-story library extending westward from the central module of the building. It was designed by university architect Howard Dwight Smith in 1950 and completed in 1951. It was demolished for the construction of the 2024 addition, and it was in a simple Stripped Classical style. A few other additions were built, such as a trash room, morgue, and cold room, but they are small and mostly below grade.

Cars outside the north entrance. (Knowlton Archives)

Hamilton Hall with its library and auxiliary additions.

A renovation occurred from 1990-1991, but most recently the entire interior was gutted and completely redesigned in a more contemporary style, and the southern wing was expanded substantially. This took place between 2022-2024. The design includes new anatomy labs, classrooms, study spaces, offices, and an atrium. The design is very faithful to the original architecture and was done by RAMSA.

Hamilton Hall’s current footprint. Note that this is my extrapolation from Google Maps and may not be to scale, and it may also include areas that are part of Starling-Loving Hall. I just included what seemed continuous with the RAMSA portion.

Hamilton Hall was named after John Waterman Hamilton (1823-1898). Hailing from Muskingum County, Hamilton graduated from Willoughby Medical College in 1847, becoming a professor of surgery at Starling Medical College in 1853 after briefly studying in New York. He served as the department chair for 21 years, while also working on a board of examiners for army surgeons during the Civil War. Hamilton was one of the founders of Columbus Medical College in 1874, serving as a professor there until 1892 and dean for his last two years.

Photos

Of the two med campus buildings that I gave their own articles (the other is Meiling Hall), I think Hamilton Hall is definitely the most interesting. Its Collegiate Gothic design is beautiful and the RAMSA additions are remarkably congruent with the original architecture. My photos also came out excellently. Here is the main facade looking southwest:

The distinction between additions is pretty much nonexistent--I didn’t know it was designed to be half this size. Note the new massive corrugated metal mechanical penthouse on top of the roof.

The projecting northeast and southeast wings are pretty regular but have square Gothic windows, a crenellated parapet, and a string course above the first floor:

Parapet detail:

Straight-on view of the east facade:

Southeast side--the cement portion is/was the morgue:

The three-story portion to the left is the 2024 RAMSA addition, while the original 1924 building is to the right. A century apart, but they appear so remarkably similar.

The central entrance is so beautiful. These next several photos will document it in detail.

The entrance portico retains either original or traditionally inspired wooden doors and transom above.

Parapet detail with quatrefoil motif:

Bay window above with carving:

The north facade features the second addition, which is one of my favorite parts of the building:

There’s an unusual transparency for Collegiate Gothic architecture--the massive rectangular windows remind me of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Glasgow School of Art. We’ll explore the windows more in a bit, but for now we’ll start with the north entrance:

The tracery above the portal is unusually detailed for Ohio State campus architecture.

The corners feature pinnacles:

More lovely dark wood doors:

These windows may indicate a touch of International/early Modernist influence, but Joseph N. Bradford always worked in historic revival styles. Indeed, it combines basic Modern organization and fenestration with the detail of Collegiate Gothic architecture.

The spandrels and mullions here are just fantastic:

Clock tower and western side:

Clock detail:

To my knowledge, this is the only historic clock tower on campus. Orton’s is simply a bell tower, and the north campus one is contemporary and ugly.

The base is carved to appear as if it is supported by two chimeras:

Copper shade above:

A look at the many eras of construction on display:

The sun was LEGIT that day. This looks like a picture off of RAMSA’s website. (Again, I don’t edit my photos beyond rotation/cropping.)

Pinnacles atop the gable:

Oriel window detail:

I really love the eclectic design of this area:

This “rose window” is really cool and has a great quality of tracery:

I also very much like the design of this glassy portion, and I think contemporary architects can learn a lot from RAMSA’s work.

It is undoubtedly contemporary in expression and materiality, but it looks to the original building and responds to it. The piers between windows and the rectangular panes themselves are clear references to Hamilton Hall’s original architecture. This is an excellent example of how to design a meaningfully different addition that respects its context.

This portal to 10th Avenue is also good. The massive expanse of the addition doesn’t necessarily make it an impenetrable wall: