Mechanical Engineering Shop Laboratory / Wood Shop and Foundry Laboratory

Built in the Renaissance Revival style, the Mechanical Engineering Shop Laboratory opened in 1901 with a total of 35,624 square feet of space. [1] Designed by Nelson Strong Spencer and built by Kelly & O'Brien and Field Schowe & Co, [2] the building cost $42,000 to construct. In 1904 S. J. Temple and James M. White collaborated on the $10,700 foundry addition. [3]

The second floor of the building contained workshop and storage space used for general University maintenance, while the first floor housed a 100-person lecture hall, a lathe room, and a machine room. One engineering professor of the day described the building as: [4]

built of red brick, with sandstone trimmings, and a slate roof; and is a neat and pleasing architectural design The equipment of this shop is first-class The freshman class of the College of Engineering is given instruction in these shops, and ample accommodation for 400 students can be provided. [5]

In 1992, the building was razed to make way for the new Grainger Library.