History of Drexel University
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[edit] Founding: 1891
Drexel was founded in 1891, with the main building convocated on December 17th of that year. The convocation was attended by such figures as Andrew Carnegie and Thomas Edison, as well as the governor of Pennsylvania and the vice president of the United States, Levi Morton. Bishop Henry Potter officiated the convocation, and The Honorable Chauncey Depew gave an address praising the new institution for it's goad of preparing students for jobs in science and industry, as opposed to training lawyers and academics in abstract fields.
[edit] Expansion and University status: 1959 to 1984
During the administration of Drexel University presidents W. W. Hagerty and James Creese--after which the University City campus Library is named--Drexel underwent a period of rapid expansion, constructing new classroom buildings or dormitories each year, sometimes several per year. The buildings constructed include Kelly, Myers, Calhoun, and Towers halls, and most of the buildings surrounding the Quad, including Matheson, Korman, Disque, and Nesbitt. During this time President Hagerty led Drexel--which was just a college at the time--to full University status.
[edit] Decline and financial crisis: 1984 to 1995
After Hagerty's departure from the university admissions, enrollment, and the university's financial situation went into substantial decline. Drexel was struggling to remain salient, and began to use endowment funds to pay operating expenses. There was even discussion of the schools merger into the next-door University of Pennsylvania, until the selection of president Constantine Papadakis.[1]
[edit] 1997 to present
In 1997 with the renovation of Van Renselaer Hall, Drexel University began a period of expansion led by president Constantine Papadakis to enlarge the university, its student population, and its alumni funding base. Since 1997, Drexel has completed three new dormitories with plans for at least two more, expanded the Electrical Engineering department with the construction of the Bossone Research Center, renovated various campus buildings and the main quad, and acquired the Queen Lane campus and Hahnemann University Hospital from MCP Hahnemann University. Papadakis has also added a College of Law, and secured millions of dollars worth of alumni grants and research funding for the university, including several grants of more than $10 million.
Master plans for further construction projects were announced on October 16, 2006 during Drexel University's Founders Day and Convocation Celebration. The plan involves significant changes to the campus and buildings over at least a five-year period. According to President Constantine Papadakis the changes are estimated at around $350 million dollars.
Some of the anticipated changes include:
- Addition of a new biomedical center
- Addition of a skyscraper
- Construct a new building to replace Stratton Hall.
- Construct a new building to replace Matheson Hall.
- Construct a new residence hall.
- Expansion to the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
- Landscape behind the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
- An addition of a west wing to the Rush building.
- An addition of a new wing to the Academic building.
- Refurbishing of the old Armory building into a basketball arena.
- Demolition of Myers Hall and the closing of Race Street between 33rd and 34th streets for more green space.
[edit] References
- ^ When The Pot Boils: The Decline and Turnaround of Drexel University. UMI (2004). Retrieved on 2007-02-14.
- "New chandelier, campus master plan unveiled at Convocation", The Triangle, October 20, 2006, retrieved October 25, 2006.
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Main Article: Drexel University |
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University City campus • Queen Lane campus • Center City Hahnemann campus |
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History |
History of Drexel University • Anthony J. Drexel • Alumni |
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