401 E COLLEGE AVE

401 E COLLEGE AVE

Outagamie

Appleton

1899

1991

university or college building

Romanesque Revival

Brick

No

Additional map codes are: 10/12. Related buildings: OU 31/14, 16, 20, 22, 30; 32/11; 73/29-30. Ormsby Hall is a three-story, hip-roofed, brick, T-shaped, late Romanesque Revival style structure. The north facing facade is the principal architecturally developed elevation. Its features are repeated on the more utilitarian side and rear elevations. The facade is composed of seven sections defined by a central and two flanking shallow pavilions. Each section is fenestrated with a single bay of nine-over-one wooden sash, either single window units or paired window units. The facade is defined horizontally by the high, rock-faced limestone foundation, a rock-faced limestone belt course below the second story window sills and by the classically proportioned brick entablature at the eaves. The principal decorative features of the well-conceived but severely restrained facade are the arched first-story and second story windows with their semi-circular compound-arched hood moulds. Ormsby Hall is a contributing structure to the Lawrence University Historic District under Criterion C as a well-conserved, modest example of Romanesque Revival influenced institutional architecture. This structure with its austere detailing depends for architectural effect upon the use of bold Romanesque-inspired elements such as arched windows with plain projecting semi-circular brick hood moulds, a rusticated stone basement and thin stone and brick belt courses to relieve the severity of its taut brick walls. The nominally Romanesque structure achieves rge requisite picturesqueness only from the modulation of the symmetrical facade with projecting pavilions. It is interesting chiefly as an example of a transitional late Romanesque Revival style building displaying the influence of the classical Revival style in its rigid symmetry, smooth wall planes and classically influenced entablature. dormitory

Not Listed

Yes