Consider the terra cotta bas relief. You can find it outside the northeast entrance to Smith Hall. It depicts a plan for the University of Washington’s Suzzallo Library. Smith Hall stands as a testament to the University of Washington’s architectural evolution.
Smith Hall, originally named Social Science Hall, was constructed between 1938 and 1939. It was the last building erected on the liberal arts quad before World War II. Architects Charles Herbert Bebb and Carl Freylinghausen Gould Sr. designed Smith Hall. They also designed Suzzallo Library. Dudley Pratt was the sculptor.
The original plan for Suzzallo Library included three structures. They were to be built in Collegiate Gothic style. The buildings would form a roughly equilateral triangle. A 300-foot bell tower was planned for the center. The bell tower was never built. You can see it in the relief on Smith Hall.
Suzzallo Library’s first phase was completed in 1926. It formed the west face of the triangle. The south wing was the second phase. It was completed in 1935. A floor was added between the first and second floors. The curving Grand Staircase was added on either side of a former rotunda.
The third wing was completed in 1963. The University had largely moved away from its earlier architectural style. Modernist concrete and glass forms were adopted instead. A fourth and final addition was completed in 1990. It was named the Kenneth S. Allen Library wing. Allen’s father was an associate director of the University library system.
The Graduate Reading Room in Suzzallo Library features cast-stone ashlar wall blocks. It also features oak bookcases topped with hand-carved friezes of native plants. A painted and stenciled timber-vaulted ceiling covers the room. Tall leaded windows feature stained glass panels. They reproduce Renaissance watermarks. Painted world globes adorn the oriels at each end of the room. They bear the names of European explorers.
Allen Clark created terra cotta sculptures for the exterior of the early wings. They depict influential thinkers and artists selected by the faculty. Stone coats of arms from universities around the world decorate the front facade.
Smith Hall, or J. Allen Smith Hall, stands proudly on Northeast Skagit Lane. It is a four-story brick building. Its roof is a whitesmoke color. The building opens its doors to students and faculty. Its hours are from morning until late evening on weekdays. It is also open on weekends.
Smith Hall represents a bridge. It links the University’s architectural past with its future. The building’s history is intertwined with the story of Suzzallo Library. The bas relief serves as a reminder of the grand vision. It embodies learning and architectural ambition. As you explore Smith Hall, remember its place in the University’s rich tapestry.