Halsey Science Center

Name

Namesake: Rufus H. Halsey

Halsey was President of the Normal School between 1899 and his untimely death in 1907. He had no specific connection to the study of science.

Facts

Completion Dates: 1963, 1969

Cost: $2.2 million (1962-1963); $2.4 million (1966)

Renovation Date: 2003

Cost: $10 million

Original Purpose of Building: Designed for the Chemistry, Physics-Astronomy and Biology Department offices, as well as laboratories, classrooms and a greenhouse.

Current Use: Same

History

In late 1959, the Wisconsin state college system initiated a major building program across its campuses to address the space needs brought upon by a major expansion of the schools' curriculum. The Halsey Science Center was seventh on the project priority list of the $21 million expansion. By February 1961, the Building Commission approved funds to finalize the planning of the building, among others in System.

When completed in 1963, Halsey Science Center consisted of the eastern two buildings (the southern classroom and pit lecture-hall structure and the adjoined four story laboratory and office building) along Elmwood Ave. and the Buckstaff Planetarium. It was the first building project dedicated solely to education since Swart Hall was completed in 1928. System director Eugene McPhee was on hand to dedicate the facility and predicted that Oshkosh’s enrollment would be 13,000 by 1973. McPhee argued that facilities such as Halsey were essential to handle such numbers.

Halsey Science Center expanded and improved upon the science classrooms and laboratories located within Harrington Hall. Chemistry, biology and physics departments, each requiring unique facilities and equipment for their work, made the move to Halsey while Geology remained in Harrington Hall.  The building was designed by the Oshkosh-based architectural firm of Sandstedt, Knoop and Yarbro and constructed by Ben B. Ganther Company.  

In 1965, funds permitted the addition of a forth building, the northern section along Woodland Ave. This was finished in 1969.