History:  Academic Hall was built in 1906 to replace the large, red brick, Victorian style Normal College building.  The original Academic Hall was leveled in a fire resulting from a 1902 electrical storm.  The funds for the almost 92,000 square feet reconstruction project were mostly provided by the state in the amount of $200,000.  This figure was said, by critics at the time, to be twice as much as any pair of buildings on any college campus in the state of Missouri. The beautiful southeast Missouri limestone featured in its neo-classical design came from the quarry area where Houck Stadium stands today. 

Building Use:  Academic Hall is the main focal point of the campus.  Today it acts as a “one stop shop” for students, as it houses all of the University’s primary student services.  Some of these include the Office of Admissions, Student Financial Services, Registrar’s Office , Testing Services, Student Employment Office, Help Desk and Information Technology .   

Fun Fact:  The building is adorned by light fixtures from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. They are located on the main floor of the building, where the Louis Houck Statuary Collection was previously on display. The collection of statues is now located in Barbara Hope Kem Statuary hall in the Aleen Vogel Wehking Alumni Center.  The main floor is also decorated by mosaic tiles of bluebirds, which is the state bird of Missouri.

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