In 1964, the building was named for Gus Olson (1888-1970), who served as a UC Regent from 1951-1960.
History:
As of 2014, the building housed classrooms and computer laboratories as well as the Language Learning Center.
Olson Hall, circa 1964.
Recreation Pool Lodge
Building:
Recreation Pool Lodge
Completed:
1964
Materials:
Wood frame
Cost:
$38,000
Financing:
University funds
Architect:
Harry Nyland
History:
Built as a multipurpose building for campus activities, it often hosted meetings and conferences. In 2013, Outdoor Adventures moved to the lodge.
Recreation Pool Lodge, circa 1968.
Regan Halls
Completed:
1965
Materials:
Wood and stucco
Cost:
$1,529,600
Financing:
University funds and a federal loan
Architect:
Kitchen & Hunt, J. Funk
Dedication:
This residence area was named for William M. Regan (1884-1962) and Susan Regan (1895-1962). William Regan served as Professor of Animal Husbandry from 1922-1951 and his wife Susan Regan served as Dean of Women from 1955-1962.
History:
Regan Hall, which consisted of nine buildings (seven were dormitories), represented the first use of a small apartment house-type cluster on campus. The seven dormitories were later named: Campo, Indio, Nova, Paloma, Rienda, Sereno, and Talara.
Regan Halls, circa 1965.
Roadhouse Hall
Completed:
1922
Materials:
Masonry and stucco
Cost:
$214,036
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
William C. Hays
Dedication:
On October 26, 1963, the building was dedicated to Chester L. Roadhouse (1881-1969) who served as Professor of Dairy Industry from 1917-1951.
History:
Roadhouse Hall, located at the present day site of the School of Education building, contained a creamery and administrative offices. This building and Horticulture Hall were constructed as the first two “permanent” structures on campus. However, it was deemed seismically unfit and razed in 1974.
Roadhouse Hall, 1948.
Robbins Hall
Completed:
1960
Materials:
Reinforced concrete
Cost:
$2,109,807
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
Anderson, Simonds, Dusel & Campini
Dedication:
The building was dedicated to Wilfred Robbins (1884-1952), Professor of Botany from 1922-1951.
History:
Previously the building housed the departments of Nematology, Weed Science, and Vegetable Crops with laboratory space for Plant Pathology and teaching laboratories for Plant Biology. As of 2014, the building is home to portions of the Plant Pathology Department, the Plant Transformation Facility, and offices of the Agricultural Sustainability Institute.
Robbins Hall, 1960.
Sewage Treatment Plant
Completed:
1951
Materials:
Reinforced concrete
Cost:
$767,500
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
Kennedy Engineers
History:
In 2000, this facility was replaced by a new wastewater treatment plant which is located south of I-80.
Sewage Treatment Plant, 1950
South Hall
Completed:
1912
Materials:
Wood Frame
Cost:
$35,032
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
Cunningham & Politeo
History:
The building was constructed as a dormitory to house sixty-seven men. It remained a dormitory until 1961 when it was converted to office use. Over the years the building has housed the Advisory Skills Center, Learning Skills Center, Internship and Career Placement Center, Services for International Students and Scholars, Student Activities, Student Affairs Research and Information, and the Student Employment Center. As of 2014, the building contained offices for the following units and programs: Academic Peer Advising, Educational Placement, Graduate Letter Service, Health Sciences Advising, Internship and Career Center, Peace Corps, Pre-Graduate Advising, Pre-Health Advising, Tipsy Taxi, UC Davis Washington Program, and Unitrans.
South Hall, 1957.
Sproul Hall
Completed:
1963
Materials:
Precast concrete
Cost:
Built with Olson Hall at a cost of $2,153,155
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
Gardner Dailey & Associates
Dedication:
Named for Robert Gordon Sproul (1891-1975) who served as President of the University of California from 1930-1958.
History:
A seismic improvement of the building was completed in 1992. In 2000, the building was home to the following departments: Religious Studies, Comparative Literature, Linguistics, and Foreign Languages (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish). As of 2014, the building contains the following departments and programs: Classics, Comparative Literature, Critical Theory Program, East Asian Languages and Cultures, French and Italian, German, Humanities Program, Italian, Religious Studies, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese.
Sproul Hall, undated.
Storer Hall
Completed:
1968
Dedication:
The building was dedicated in 1969 to Tracy I. Storer (1889-1973), Professor of Zoology from 1923-1956.
History:
The building, which was built for the Zoology Department, housed the Department of Evolution and Ecology (formerly Zoology) as well as the Center for Population Biology in 2014.
Storer Hall, 1979.
Veihmeyer Hall
Completed:
1959
Materials:
Reinforced concrete
Cost:
$944,982
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
Gardner Dailey & Associates
Dedication:
in 1962, the building was dedicated to Frank J. Veihmeyer (1886-1977), Professor of Water Science from 1918-1954.
History:
Previously home to the Hydraulic Sciences Department, as of 2014 the building housed the Land, Air, and Water Resources Department as well as the Center for Spatial Technologies and Remote Sensing (CSTARS).
Veihmeyer Hall, undated.
Voorhies Hall
Completed:
1959
Materials:
Reinforced concrete
Cost:
$944,982
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
Gardner Dailey & Associates
Dedication:
In 1965, the building was dedicated to Edwin C. Voorhies (1892-1967), who served as Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of California (1925-1958).
History:
Voorhies Hall has previously housed the Departments of Agricultural Economics, History, Political Science, and the Graduate School of Administration (now Graduate School of Management). As of 2014 the building was home to the English Department, the Humanities Institute, the Medieval and Early Modern Studies Program, and the University Writing Program
Voorhies Hall, undated.
Walker Hall Annex
Completed:
1929
Materials:
Masonry
Cost:
$7,286
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
William C. Hays
History:
The annex was a single story addition that was separated from the wings of the original building by approximately sixty feet and joined by a wall at each end to form a service court. It was built for equipment storage and maintenance and was later used by the Audiovisual and Nutrition Departments. The Walker Hall Annex was razed in 2011.
Walker Hall Annex, circa 1986.
Wyatt Pavilion Theater
Completed:
1907
Materials:
Wood frame
Cost:
$7,920
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
Howard & Galloway
Dedication:
The building was dedicated to Fred S. Wyatt (1890-1974) whose monetary donation made the movement of the building and its renovation possible. From 1961-1974, Wyatt served as assistant to the Chancellor of UC Davis as a volunteer gifts and endowments officer.
History:
Wyatt Pavilion is the oldest building on campus. This “Stick and Shingle” style building, built in 1907 on what is now the southeast corner of Shields Avenue and East Quad, was first used as the livestock judging barn and an all-purpose meeting place. In the 1930s it was moved to the corner of California Avenue and Hutchison Drive (the present day site of Rock Hall). In 1963, it was moved to Old Davis Road and remodeled and converted into an Elizabethan Theatre. William Shakespeare’s King Richard II was the inaugural performance in the new theatre in December 1963. As of 2014, the theatre, which is still located on Old Davis Road, seats 200 people in a three quarter round fashion. It is used by the Music and Theatre and Dance Departments for performances.
Wyatt Pavilion, Chancellor Mrak, right, and Alan Stambusky, left, discuss the conversion of the judging pavilion to a theatre, 1963.
Young Hall
Completed:
1941
Materials:
Concrete
Cost:
195,961
Financing:
State appropriation
Architect:
Masten & Hurd
Dedication:
In 1967, it was named for Herbert A. Young, Professor of Chemistry and first Dean of the College of Letters and Sciences.
History:
Originally known as Physical Sciences I, it was built to house the Chemistry Department and later expanded to include Physics and Geology. In 1986, it was home to the Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology Departments. As 2014, Young Hall contained the Anthropology and Psychology Departments.
Centennial Record of the University of California. [Berkeley, Calif.] University of California, [1967].
Dateline UCD: a Newspaper for Faculty and Staff of the University of California, Davis. [Davis, CA]: The University, 1987-.
Scheuring, Ann Foley. Abundant Harvest: the History of the University of California, Davis. [Davis, Calif.]: UC Davis History Project, c2001.
Spectator. Davis, Calif.: University of California, Davis, 1970-1988.
Windows on the Past: A Personal History of Campus Buildings, University of California, Davis. Davis, Calif. (Box 197, University of California, Davis, Davis, Calif. 95616) : The Pyrtanean Honor Society, Student Activities, c2000.
Contact Archives and Special Collections
If you have any questions or requests, please send us an email or leave a voicemail and we’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
