The first administration building (apart from Old Main) was designed by Roy Place and built by M.M. Sundt. It was completed in March, 1937, at a cost of $91,942. In 1953, Place and Place designed an addition, which was built for $112,187. In 1967, Place and Place designed a remodeling at a cost of $45,443, and again in 1979, after Lew Place retired, it was remodeled for $47,895. In 1966/67, the building was called the "Old Administration Building."
From 1967 to 1979, it was named the Alumni Building and in October, 1979, it became the Robert L. Nugent Alumni Building in honor of Robert L. Nugent, who had been university vice president from 1947 to 1957 and then was made executive vice president. Nugent had been Dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 1944 to 1947. He had been the recipient of an Oxford Scholarship.
Warren Moon, an architect for Place and Place, recalls that the 1966/67 remodeling was to convert it from the Administration Building to the Alumni Building. "I remember, we took everything out that had anything to do with administrative purposes, removing all the old cashiers' cages and other equipment." When old equipment is removed from a building that is being remodeled, it is stored at the university for future use, if such a use can be found. If it cannot be used again, it is scrapped.
Opposite: The Administration Building (PWA). Renamed in honor of an Oxford scholar.
