Rich Hall

History

Function
Rich Hall is located on East Campus between Mackin and Park Halls, with Sheldon to the south and Lakeside complex to the north. Dedicated in 1961, the site was originally intended to be the location for Penfield Library, but ended up being used as the center for SUNY Oswego's business department instead.

Namesake
Rich was dedicated in 1961 in honor of Grace Ellingwood Rich, a graduate from the class of 1895 who went on to have a career teaching art. The building’s architect was her brother, Lorimer Rich, and he was heavily influenced by Grace’s work. This makes Rich Hall an especially noteworthy building for SUNY Oswego, since Lorimer Rich was also a critic in design at Columbia University’s School of Architecture and designed Arlington National Cemetery’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the accompanying Memorial Amphitheater. More locally, more of Lorimer Rich’s work can be viewed at his alma mater, Syracuse University, where he designed a library of law, an arts center and a gymnasium.