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The '''Nott Memorial''', also known as '''Nott Memorial Hall''' and 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]]. It is a [[National Historic Landmark]].
The '''Nott Memorial''', is an elaborate 16-sided stone-masonry building which serves as both architectural and physical centerpiece of [[Union College]] in [[Schenectady]], [[New York]].


Dedicated to [[Eliphalet Nott]], president of Union for a remarkable sixty-two years (1804-1866), the 110 foot high by 89 wide structure is a [[National Historic Landmark]].
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. The building was started in 1858 and was completed in 1879. It is dedicated to [[Eliphalet Nott]], 62-year president of Union College. The primary architect was [[Edward Tuckerman Potter]], the architect of other local churches and houses, alumnus of the college, and grandson of Eliphalet Nott. It is one of very few 16-sided buildings in the world (the nearest is the Church of Christ the King in neighboring Guilderland, New York). 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.


[[Image:NottMemorialHall HABS view1 cropped.jpg|left|200px]]


==Design==
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 renovation was completed by Boston based architecture firm [[Finegold Alexander + Associates Inc]]. 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.


Officially designated '''Nott Memorial Hall''' but referred to by generations of students and faculty simply as "The Nott", the building's centrality and initial design trace back to Josef Ramee's 1813 conception of the school grounds, the first planned college campus in the United States.
⚫
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.


The Memorial as executed was designed by [[Edward Tuckerman Potter]], architect of area churches and homes, alumnus of the college, and grandson of President Nott. Construction began in 1858 and was completed in 1879. The result was and remains one of very few 16-sided buildings in the world. [[Image:NottMemorialHall HABS view1 cropped.jpg|left|200px]]
⚫
It was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1972 and was further declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1986.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv">{{citation|title={{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/72000912.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Nott Memorial Hall]|498&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 510064 bytes -->}}|author=Carolyn Pitts|date=July, 1985|publisher=National Park Service}} and {{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/72000912.pdf ''Accompanying photo, exterior, from 1964'']|97.8&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 100240 bytes -->}}</ref>

For nearly a century 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, ideal for [[theater in the round]]. The upper floors were eventually closed off and fell into disrepair.

==Restoration==
In 1993 the college began a complete renovation of the Nott, restoring it to its original design. The award-winning project was undertaken by noted Boston based architecture firm [[Finegold Alexander + Associates Inc]] and carried out by [[A.J. Martini, Inc.]], contractors. <ref>http://www.ajmartini.com/index.cfm/portfolio/Historic/Union_College_Nott_Memorial</ref>. 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.

⚫
Once again, the center of the Nott is completely open to the top of its dome 102 feet overhead. The main floor is a meeting room with seating for up to 400; the second and third levels ring the space and include galleries and informal meeting places for students. Two-hundred eight-eight restored stained glass windows bathe the interior in colored light. Atop the dome an inscription in colored [[slate]] from the [[Talmud]] proclaims 'The day is short, the work is great, the reward is much, the Master is urgent.'.

⚫
The Memorial was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1972 and was further declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1986.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv">{{citation|title={{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/72000912.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Nott Memorial Hall]|498&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 510064 bytes -->}}|author=Carolyn Pitts|date=July, 1985|publisher=National Park Service}} and {{PDFlink|[http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/72000912.pdf ''Accompanying photo, exterior, from 1964'']|97.8&nbsp;[[Kibibyte|KiB]]<!-- application/pdf, 100240 bytes -->}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:29, 15 June 2008

Nott Memorial Hall
Nott Memorial is located in New York
Nott Memorial
LocationSchenectady, New York
Built1858
ArchitectEdward Tuckerman Potter; William Appleton Potter
Architectural styleGothic, Other
NRHP reference No.72000912
Added to NRHPMay 05, 1972[1]

The Nott Memorial, is an elaborate 16-sided stone-masonry building which serves as both architectural and physical centerpiece of Union College in Schenectady, New York.

Dedicated to Eliphalet Nott, president of Union for a remarkable sixty-two years (1804-1866), the 110 foot high by 89 wide structure is a National Historic Landmark.


Design

Officially designated Nott Memorial Hall but referred to by generations of students and faculty simply as "The Nott", the building's centrality and initial design trace back to Josef Ramee's 1813 conception of the school grounds, the first planned college campus in the United States.

The Memorial as executed was designed by Edward Tuckerman Potter, architect of area churches and homes, alumnus of the college, and grandson of President Nott. Construction began in 1858 and was completed in 1879. The result was and remains one of very few 16-sided buildings in the world.

For nearly a century 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, ideal for theater in the round. The upper floors were eventually closed off and fell into disrepair.

Restoration

In 1993 the college began a complete renovation of the Nott, restoring it to its original design. The award-winning project was undertaken by noted Boston based architecture firm Finegold Alexander + Associates Inc and carried out by A.J. Martini, Inc., contractors. [3]. 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.

Once again, the center of the Nott is completely open to the top of its dome 102 feet overhead. The main floor is a meeting room with seating for up to 400; the second and third levels ring the space and include galleries and informal meeting places for students. Two-hundred eight-eight restored stained glass windows bathe the interior in colored light. Atop the dome an inscription in colored slate from the Talmud proclaims 'The day is short, the work is great, the reward is much, the Master is urgent.'.

The Memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and was further declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986.[2][4]

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23.
  2. ^ a b "Nott Memorial Hall". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. 2007-09-17.
  3. ^ http://www.ajmartini.com/index.cfm/portfolio/Historic/Union_College_Nott_Memorial
  4. ^ Carolyn Pitts (July, 1985), Template:PDFlink, National Park Service {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) and Template:PDFlink

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