Project Details Page

synopsis

F.L. Olmsted, Jr. made a hasty site visit and immediate written report to the NC College when he visited the Biltmore estate in July 1904. From the correspondence files It is unclear if he had time to follow-up on further requests. The focus at the time was on the location of the Agricultural Building and specifications for a survey for locating future buildings.

F.L. Olmsted, Jr. made a hasty site visit and immediate written report to the NC College when he visited the Biltmore estate in July 1904. From the correspondence files it is unclear if he had time to follow-up on further requests. The focus at the time was on the location of the Agricultural Building and specifications for a survey for locating future buildings. He recommended placing the new building at the high point of Hillsborough Street, but set back 200 feet and on a parallel axis with the existing Textile Building further east on Hillborough Street (Tompkins Hall built in 1901). He also recommended adding two levels of entrances from the south with broad stairs and adjusting the fenestration "to provide a dignified entrance in the center of the south facade" since he anticipated that would become a "focal feature of a future quadrangle." The Agricultural Building built in 1904-05 is now Patterson Hall and serves as the offices of the NC State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. It appears to be located as Olmsted had recommended. To the south is the Gardner Arboretum, but there is no grand entrance to Patterson Hall on its south facade to "facilitate the coming and going from that side." [F.L. Olmsted to G.T. Winston, 7/18/1904 (images 22-23)]

more