| Brandon Hall | |
|---|---|
Miami University Oxford |
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| General information | |
| Type | Residence Hall |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Location | Oxford, Ohio, United States |
| Coordinates | |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Current tenants | Coed Residence |
| Cost | $771,000 |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Miami University |
| Main contractor | Knowlton Construction |
| Architect | Cellarius & Hilmer |
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Brandon Hall, a residence hall on Miami University's campus, was constructed in 1959 by the architects Cellarius & Hilmer. It is located on North Quad on Miami Universities campus, where its local address is 385 Tallawanda Road .[1]
The land that Brandon was constructed on was bought by Edgar Ewing Brandon, a professor and two time dean at the college. Brandon Hall is a three-story residence hall with a basement that is roughly U-shaped in its form, with the architecture being a Georgian revival.[2]
It was constructed to have bilateral symmetry, which is obvious when looking at the front of the building. When it was being constructed, it was the first dorm of its type in that it did not include a kitchen and dining area (along with Mcfarland Hall across from it) unlike the other dorms at the time on Miami’s campus. However, in recent years a kitchenette was built in the basement for residents to use. There are eleven bays on the property and five side bays as well. The rough sizes of all the windows are eight over eight and six over six. The entrance is centered in the facade, almost directly in the center of the building. It cost roughly $711,000 dollars to construct Brandon Hall.[3]
When Brandon Hall was constructed in 1959, it was built along side Mcfarland Hall for an all men's residence hall for fraternity brothers. It was the first of it's kind on Miami's campus to not include a dining hall within the building; they were supposed to be somewhat experimental with its use. Brandon and Mcfarland were meant for fraternity men in it's original use, and they were expected to eat at their fraternityhouses, which were very close to these halls, or within the city. It mirrors Mcfarland Hall and created a courtyard in the middle.[4]
Currently, the building is a coed residence hall that is under the Red Hawks Learning Living Community at Miami University. Learning Living Communities, according to Miami's website, "create and extend student learning opportunities outside of the classroom that heighten student intellectual and personal growth. Living Learning Communities are purposeful attempts to integrate curricular and co-curricular experiences that complement and extend classroom learning." Red Hawk Traditions encourages students living in Brandon, McFarland, and other dorms in this LLC to engage in school spirit and learn about Miami's traditions, as well as engage in athletics at Miami.[5]
Brandon Hall is very close to Miami's athletic facilities. As of December 2011[update], the building is still in excellent condition.[6]
Though Brandon Hall was originally built for Fraternity men to eat at their Fraternity houses or within the city, Martin Dining Hall is now located behind Brandon to serve the residents of North Quad.This dining hall l has two floors. The top being designed for "an all you can eat" buffet style, and the down stairs being a grocery market. "Hawks Nest" is also included down stairs, where students can order other foods such as pizza.[7]
Edward Ewing Brandon was born in York Springs, Pennsylvania on August 9, 1865. He received his PH.D in 1900 from the University of Paris. He came to Miami in 1898 as a professor of Romantic Languages and Literature. Brandon was once a dean of the College of Liberal Arts and also twice the acting president of Miami University during the years 1909-1910 and 1927-1928. He was a major influence on the campus for his twenty-three years of service. He was also generous in his support towards Miami’s influential fraternity system.[4]
Because of this background, this is a major reason why Brandon Hall was named after him. Brandon made many contributions to Miami University, including donating over ten thousand dollars for the Brandon Language Department and inspiring the idea of constructing residence halls for fraternity men. After his retirement, the editor of the Alumni News Letter wrote, “We know of no better tribute to Dr. Brandon than the University itself, and the thousand of alumni whom he influenced in scholarship, learning, and character.”[4]
He died on June 8, 1957, two years before Brandon was finished being constructed. Dr. Brandon had also purchased the land, which Brandon was constructed on in previous years in hopes of new fraternity houses being built, since Dr. Brandon had done so much for the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity .[4]
The location and function of Brandon Hall are both very appropriate based on Dr. Brandon's purchase of the land and his contribution to the fraternity system, as well as his influential time at Miami University as a professor, dean, and colleague.[8]
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