Draft:Gilchrist Hall

Gilchrist Hall is a historic dormitory in the Florida State University Historic District in Tallahassee, Florida. Gilchrist Hall was designed in the collegiate gothic style by Rudolph Weaver and constructed between 1926 and 1928, with a complete renovation in 1998. The building gets its name from the 20th governor of Florida, Albert Waller Gilchrist, in honor of his support to the Florida State College of Women (FSCW), which became Florida State University, and who died during the hall's construction.

Original Construction
The demand for housing at Florida State College of Women (FSCW) had always outstripped the supply with administration housing women off-campus only in approved accommodations with many rules for the landladies and students which greatly reduced the number of students able to enroll. The President of Florida State College of Women, Edward Conradi, knew of this, and with the expansion of Tallahassee to the westward side of campus, would pressure the Florida State Board of Control for a new dormitory, designed by Rudolph Weaver.

The funding for Gilchrist Hall came directly from a joint appropriations bill, which granted approximately $115,000 for the construction. The planning of the new dormitory continued throughout 1925 and early 1926, with Rudolph Weaver designing a t-shaped dormitory located west of Broward Hall in the collegiate gothic style.

It featured an ornate lobby with a detailed fireplace, carved grapevine motif doorway moldings, and dark terracotta-style floorings. Each floor would feature a small parlor for entertaining, which other dorm halls lacked at the time. Gilchrist Hall would additionally have gothic stonework and a terracotta roof. It would feature wooden beans and joints with masonry-bearing walls to create the structure of the building. D.D. Thomas and Son of Memphis Tennesee won the contract for Gilchrist Hall at $81,129 in March of 1926. Due to an increase in the cost of construction, the original funding was only enough for the East Wing of Gilchrist Hall to be completed. Throughout the 1927-28 school year, the East wing of Gilchrist Hall housed 80 girls, while funding to complete the building was allocated. This money came from the state gasoline tax, with the contract awarded to Leo Ashmeir to complete the building for an estimated $145,000. The second wing of the dormitory would be completed with brick and concrete, making it far more fireproof, with accommodations for 200 students in 101 rooms.

Gilchrist Hall officially opened in September of 1928, with a construction cost of $258,000 one of the most expensive buildings on campus. Gilchrist Hall was one of the most modern buildings on campus, with smaller parlors on each floor and one large room for entertaining, which all the Halls but Bryan lacked at the time. Additionally, Gilchrist Hall featured the most up-to-date utilities with each room having double base electrical outlets, and two lights. With Gilchrist Hall complete the enrollment of Florida State College of Women would reach 1,642, with 1,116 residing in residents' halls.

1996 Renovations
The renovations to Gilchrist Hall were completed as part of a larger Florida State University effort to modernize and restore the five oldest dorms on campus. The design and plans for the Gilchrist Hall remodel were done by Barnett and Frozack Architects with construction by Ajax Building Corporation. The construction for Gilchrist Hall would begin in 1996 and complete in 1998, ahead of schedule. The renovation of Gilchrist Hall was extensive, featuring a complete remodeling of the interior and exterior building, with most systems worked on. While the exterior and lobby would remain in the existing historic style, the rest of the historical finishes had diminished due to the age of the building and the state most of the items were in. The remolding of Gilchrist Hall would mark the completion of the 1993 Renovation Project.

Amenties & Location
Gilchrist Hall is located on the east side of campus and is facing the South Gate Entrance on Jefferson Street. The Hall is located within the original campus built while Florida State University was still Florida State College for Women. Gilchrist Hall is located within proximity to several of Florida State University’s dining locations including Suwannee Room, 1851, and a small food court within the Honors, Scholars, and Fellowship House. Gilchrist Hall is located to the side of Landis Green, with Strozier Library at the other end of the green.

Gilchrist Hall features standard suite-style single and double rooms, where two dorm rooms share a shower and toilet, with a sink in the dorm room itself, or singles, doubles, and triples with a private bathroom. Additionally, throughout the building, there are four extra single-stall bathrooms for use as well. On each floor of Gilchrist Hall, there is a Kitchen, study room, and trash room. Gilchrist Hall also on the lobby floor has vending, as well as a lobby and game room with a pool table. The laundry for the building is on the first floor, with six washers and three dryers.