Wieboldt Hall

From the laying of the first cornerstones on June 11, 1926, to its recently completed multi-million dollar renovation, Wieboldt Hall has been the home of evening education at Northwestern University. Over the years, the programs may have changed from the School of Commerce to the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and from University College to the School of Continuing Studies, but Wieboldt Hall has remained a fixture for working adults who seek a quality education.

The construction of Wieboldt Hall was part of Northwestern's efforts to build a presence in the city of Chicago. As Northwestern's programs within the city expanded, it became apparent that the Northwestern Building, located on the corner of Lake and Dearborn streets, could no longer accommodate the Schools of Commerce, Dentistry, Law, and Pharmacy. The McKinlock Campus was constructed on Chicago Avenue along Lake Shore Drive, and William Wieboldt, through the Wieboldt foundation, donated $500,000 toward the construction of a building for the School of Commerce. He sought to empower working professionals and their business endeavors, believing "the most effective form of charity is developing self-supporting men and women."

The original plans called for the building to be three stories high, but that number was eventually raised to eight. The building was constructed from Indiana limestone in the gothic mode, with a tower elevating to 187 feet. The lobby was floored in Tennessee marble and its walls were paneled in walnut. James Gamble Rogers of New York designed Wieboldt Hall, and it was constructed by Raymond Wieboldt, the son of William. Total construction costs just exceeded $1 million.

The first two floors served as the heating plant for the entire McKinlock campus (they were later converted into classrooms and office space in 1962). The Joseph Schaffner Library, named in honor of the local merchant, resided on the second and third floors. The third floor also held rooms for a men's club and a women's club. The fourth floor belonged to the School of Journalism, which originated as a division within the School of Commerce.

Northwestern University President Walter Dill Scott conducted a grand dedication ceremony for the McKinlock campus on June 16 and 17, 1927, and the University trustees declared that Wieboldt Hall was officially "ready to open its doors to those progressive men and women who are determined to win from the world of commerce a full measure of reward and the prestige and power that go hand in hand with success."

Wieboldt Hall would eventually open its doors to University College, Northwestern's evening school that began to offer classes in 1933. In response to booming post-World War II enrollments, University College moved its offices from the Ward Building to the sixth floor of Wieboldt in 1951. They still reside there today as the School of Continuing Studies.

In 2006, the School of Continuing Studies launched a $12 million project to improve the infrastructure of the building and renovate the classrooms on the fourth and fifth floors. The project also included the addition of a community space for students and smaller meeting rooms intended for faculty conferences and study groups. The building now has improved interior lighting and state-of-the-art "smart classroom" technology. The school also has an increased presence in the north lobby of Wieboldt Hall, adding a large reception area, student kiosk, and electronic bulletin board.

The new renovations are an effort by Northwestern University and the School of Continuing Studies to make good on William Wieboldt's original mission to empower "self-supporting men and women." If education is the foundation for a successful professional career, then Wieboldt Hall has been the cornerstone for generations of Chicago's working adults. Education is a lifelong commitment, and Wieboldt Hall is primed to be a terrific center of learning for years to come.