Nott Memorial Library, 1870's, Schenectady New York, Victorian/Gothic Architecture, Edward Tuckerman Potter

Nott Memorial Library

History

Union colleges Nott Memorial is one of the great time pieces of American higher education. It is a rounded shape 16 sided building located in Schenectady New York. The Nott occupies what was envisioned about 200 years ago, plans were drawn up by Joseph Ramee, a French architect and Eliphalte Nott, Unions president from the years 1804-1886. According to Notts, the original purpose of the memorial was for it to be an alumni hall, but that idea was later forgotten and the function became unknown. Construction begun in 1858, unknowing of what the building function will be. Paul Venable turner, and emeritus art professor said it was probably intended to serve as a "chapel of some sort", based on a sketch found of what the architected wanted the building to look like, which essentially was a recreation of the pantheon [1].

Months before construction could be finished on Not, money ran out and construction had to stop. Nott died, and his grandson Edward Tuckerman took over the job. He changed his grandfather’s idea of how the building was going to look like, envisioning it as a "polychromatic, Victorian gothic monument" instead of a recreation of the pantheon [2] . During the late 1870s the structure was finally realized, and its named “Alumni Hall” or “Graduates Hall” served as an event space and art gallery. Drawings of what Nott envisioned the structure to look like were lost, so no one really knows how Notts was originally intended to look like.

Over the years Nott was neglected and not taken care of properly so in 1902, Andrew Carnegie gave 40,000 dollars to renovate the building getting it ready for the centennial of Eliphalet Notts first inauguration as unions president. In honor of Notts they dedicate the building in his honor, and for the next 60 years it is used as the college library [3]. It wasn’t until 1962 when they moved to a new library which had been build on the university and Nott was repurposed as the college book store. During the 90’s the building once again is restored, dedicating it to the 200th university of the founding of the college. 

Architecture

Style: Victorian gothic/ Gothic architecture

Inside:

The structure has colorful encaustic-tile main floors and two galleries supported on cast-iron columns that hold up together the copper drum beneath the dome [2]. When you enter the building, you can tell how its structure is expressed and see all of its structural members. Showing of the steel beams, there is a striking resemblance to the art deco style, that is by the way that it uses structure and metal framing to accentuate the space. It also hides the structure from the outside with masonry, but in the inside the structure is actually supported by beams meaning that the masonry mostly just serve as decoration. If you take notice, the beams are actually primarily supporting the main dome on top and the rest are just extensions from it. From the extension the primary circulation path is created from the main dome, and the stairs are placed there. Although the stairs aren't part of the 'circulation" but instead are attached to the structural member, been placed inside and outside the members as one goes  up/ There are windows all around the structure, with a myriad of arched window types bringing in light. The number of windows and the structure of the building helps in figuring out the original function of Nott. Light is everywhere in the structure, coming in through all sides meaning that for most of the day there is natural light lighting up the building and artificial light at night. From the way light is used one  would conclude of the purpose of the structure was to be some sort of library or working space.

Outside:

The outside consist of 16 equal sides arranged inscribed a circle. Each side is a copy of itself creating symmetry around the building. The memorial does resemble the pantheon in some elements, the top dome although smaller has windows the bring down light. The dome also has tiny holes on top, where light can filter through and create a night sky during the day. The memorial is made from different hued bricks, making it stand out in the almost green landscape. The windows resemble that of gothic architecture style, having pointed arch's on the first level to carry the weight of the structure above it [4]. The structure itself seems more monumental then an event space due to its landscape and symmetrical quality so its purpose does not fit its architecture. Its simplicity does not hurt the environment but blends into it, as well as the color pallet of the materials used as they camouflage with the surrounding landscape. 

Cited Works

[1] Mays, Vernon. "What Nott?." ["Nott Memorial, Union College, Schenectady, N.Y"]. Historic Preservation, vol. 47, Sep/Oct95, p. 32. EBSCOhost, arktos.nyit.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asu&AN=505745918&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

[2] “Post Navigation.” Buildings Grounds A 16Sided Landmark That Almost Didnt Survive Comments, www.chronicle.com/blogs/buildings/a-16-sided-landmark-that-almost-didnt-survive/32697.

[3] “Union Home.” Union College, www.union.edu/about/history/campus/nott/.

[4] “Gothic Architecture: Style, Characteristics & History.” Study.com, Study.com, study.com/academy/lesson/gothic-art-and-architecture.html.