Machinery Hall
"Machinery Hall" by Edwin H. Gaggin of Gaggin and Gaggin , 1904 - 1907
Machinery Hall’s rocky stone facing and reinforced concrete and steel frame serve as an indication of the building’s original purpose - to serve as a machine shop and store heavy machinery on campus. Machinery Hall was the second engineering building constructed for the College of Applied Sciences. Throughout the years, it has served a variety of purposes and today it primarily is used as a computer center. Nonetheless, the sign above the building’s entrance still reads “MACHINERY HALL LYMAN CORNELIUS SMITH COLLEGE OF APPLIED SCIENCES.”
Machinery Hall was built with a generous donation by Lyman C. Smith. The building was originally intended to be . In its original form, the building was home to metal and woodworking equipment, blacksmithing forges and anvils, a cement mill, and mining machinery. After Lyman C. Smith’s death in 1910, his family donated a hydraulic laboratory for the building in his honor. Over the years, the building has served a variety of roles. After the College of Applied Science moved to the Thompson Road campus in 1948, the building primarily served as classrooms. SU Drama and the Boar’s Head Theatre made use of the building’s second floor in 1950. From 1951 to 1963, the building served as the University ROTC headquarters. Since 1964, the building has primarily served as a computer center. In 1984, the building was rededicated as the home of the Office of Academic Computing Services.
"Machinery Hall." SU Archives Buildings website; Hardin, E. (1993). Syracuse Landmarks: An AIA Guide to Downtown and Historic Neighborhoods. SU Press; Gorney, J. (2006). Syracuse University: An Architectural Guide. SU Press; Greene, J. R. (2000). The Hill: An Illustrated Biography of Syracuse University, 1870-Present. SU Press; SU Archives; SU Photo and Imaging Center; The Daily Orange.