White Hall
Building Coordinators
Judy Virgillio
207 White Hall
255-4123
Julie Graham
411 White Hall
255-5553
Department of Government
210 White Hall
255-3549
http://falcon.arts.cornell.edu/Govt
Department of Near Eastern Studies
409 White Hall
255-6275
http://www.arts.cornell.edu/nes/index.html
Visual Studies Program
409 White Hall
255-1329
http://www.arts.cornell.edu/visualstudies/
Building emergencies: 255-5322 (24 hour - utilities
maintenance)
Constructed in 1866, White hall was designed by Harlow M. Wilcox & Cyrus K. Porter in Second Empire Style. It was known as North University until 1883 when it was renamed White Hall after Andrew Dickson White. It was the second structure building on the campus and is part of Old Stone Row with McGraw and Morrill Halls. It was constructed with ashlar and limestone quoins.
The renovation of White Hall began in 2002 through a $12 million project. The renovation was undertaken by the architectural firm of Peter Gisolfi and Associates. It was an important part of the university's initiative to enhance undergraduate education. The interior of the building was completely redesigned with classrooms and seminar rooms on the lower levels and offices on the upper levels. Previously home to the department of Math, it is now home to the departments of Government and Near Eastern Studies and the Visual Studies Program.
White Hall was originally used for student housing, classrooms, meeting rooms for student clubs, a faculty room, and the College of Architecture. It was previously renovated in 1961 and 1963.
Andrew Dickson White was a scholar of humanities and travelled around the world representing Cornell. He was the ambassador of the United states to Germany, and was the US representative at the Hauge Peace Conference of 1899.