Northwestern Technological Institute
The Technological Institute, more commonly known as "Tech", is a landmark building at Northwestern University built from 1940 to 1942. It is the main building for students and faculty in the
History
The construction of the building became possible after Walter Patton Murphy, a wealthy inventor of railroad equipment, donated $6.735 million on March 20, 1939.[1] Murphy wanted the Institute to offer a new kind of “cooperative education” model for engineering, with academic courses and practical application in industrial settings closely integrated.
Construction
To make room for the new building, the
New wings and neighboring buildings
In 1961, construction began on two new wings, which were added to the eastern ends of the building, along with additions to the library and physics wing. The expansion, dedicated in October, 1963, was prompted by a $3.4 million contract awarded by the
In 1999, a ten-year, $125 million renovation of the Technological institute was completed. This renovation, undertaken by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, included extensive reconstruction of the interior of the original 1940 structure, replacing the mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems, and reconfiguring the laboratory and research space.[4]
Additional buildings have been constructed around the original Technological Institute, connected together by pedestrian bridges to create what has been called the "Technological Campus". Among them are the Seeley G. Mudd Library for Science and Engineering opened in 1977, the Center for Catalysis and Surface Science in 1986, and Cook Hall in 1989. More recent additions to the "Technological Campus" include Hogan Hall, the Pancoe Life Sciences Pavilion, the Center for Nanofabrication, and the Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center.
References
- ^ Robert C. Michaelson. "Opportunity Lost and Gained: A Sidelight on the Walter P. Murphy Gift". In Morris E. Fine (ed.). Tech, the Early Years.
- New York Times. December 31, 1942. Retrieved December 17, 2010.
- ^ "History: 1989-1998". Northwestern Engineering web site. Archived from the original on June 5, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- ^ "Technological Institute". Northwestern University Library archives architecture collection. Archived from the original on 2005-12-17.