The Cupola of Art & Architecture South

I had my “Introduction to Architectural Graphics” class go outside to draw this morning, because it’s a perfect spring day, and by the time I answered a few questions and actually got out there I only had about 25 minutes to draw. So I limited my focus to one detail of the building where I’ve worked and taught for the past eleven years. Designed by J.E. Tourtellotte and built in 1904, what is now known as “Art & Architecture South” started its life as an armory and then the Women’s Gymnasium before being converted into offices and studios for the University of Idaho’s College of Art & Architecture in 1976. At some point the original cupola was removed, and the upper level studios would get very hot in the early fall and late spring. So in 2009 a new cupola was designed and built to replace the old one, and it now works effectively to vent the heat from the building. Here are some historic photos of the building and its original cupola in the years 1906, 1907, 1926, and 1936. [9" x 6" in a Stillman & Birn Gamma Series Sketchbook]