Nott Memorial
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nott Memorial (known locally as 'The Nott') is a 16-sided building, 89 feet in diameter, located on the center of the quad at Union College in Schenectady, New York. Its concept and initial design were found as early as 1813, as it was included in Josef Ramee's plans for the campus, the first planned college campus in the United States. Building was started in 1858 and was completed in 1879. It is dedicated to Eliphalet Nott, 62-year president of Union College. The architect was Edward Tuckerman Potter, the architect of other local churches and houses, alumnus of the college, and grandson of Eliphalet Nott. It is the only 16 sided-building in the Northern Hemisphere. A popular tradition (regarded as an "unofficial graduation requirement") among students at Union is the "Naked Nott Run" which involves streaking a full circuit around the outside of the building.
From its completion in 1879 until 1961 the Nott was mostly open inside. In 1961 the college moved its bookstore into the basement of the building and its theater into the first two floors, a perfect location for a theater in the round. The upper floors were eventually closed off and fell into disrepair. In 1993 the college began renovation of the Nott, restoring it back to its original design. The bookstore and theater were moved to other locations on the college campus, and in 1995 the Nott reopened on the 200th anniversary of the college.
The center of the Nott is completely open from the main floor to the top of the dome 102 feet overhead. The main floor is now a meeting room with seating for up to 400. The second and third floors ring the open center of the building and include galleries and informal meeting places for students. The slate dome contains an inscription from the Talmud that roughly translates to 'the day is short, the work is great, the reward is much, the Master is urgent.'. The dome also contains 709 colored pieces of glass about 1.5 inches in diameter that catch sunlight and bathe the interior in colored light.
