A special illustrated feature presents architectural sketches and photographs of the original Georgia Center building.
Construction of the Georgia Center's original building began on January 17, 1955. Staff began moving in September 1956, and the first conferees were in-house four months later.
The original plans called for five "blocks," designed for specific utility for adult education conferences and activities, as follows: sections for sleeping (for 296 people) and dining (three areas); conference rooms (20) and exhibit space; an auditorium (capacity -- 434), modeled after the General Assembly Room of the United Nations building; communications facilities; and staff office space.
The University's Committee on Continuing Education, formed in late 1952 and expanded in early 1953 as the Georgia Center concept was taking shape, conferred with a number of universities and other educational institutions, as well as with design firms and others. According to the Georgia Center's Annual Report 1953-1954 (p.5), "The building design and site plan reflect the widespread interest shown in the Georgia Center as a new departure in adult education."
The firm of Stevens and Wilkinson of Atlanta, Georgia, drew the plans for the Center and deGive, Dunham, and O'Neil, also of Atlanta, was the contractor. George Nelson and Associates was the firm chosen to design the interiors of the building, including furniture, colors, fabrics, and so on.
Several publications of the time spoke highly of the Georgia Center's new adult education efforts. An article in The School Executive of November 1957, ("The Georgia Center for Continuing Education"), 10 months after the Center opened, termed the Center "reputedly the most complete structure ever constructed to house adult education courses."
The article continued: "Benefiting from the successful ideas incorporated in the 1951 Michigan State Center, another Kellogg Foundation grant such as Georgia's, the Georgia Center has added a few innovations of its own. The result: a building and program whose unusual nature is expected to have far reaching influence on adult education programs the country over."
Another publication--Interiors--featured the Center's building and interior designs in an article ("Schools") in February 1958, stating:
" . . . the Kellogg Foundation has underwritten the University of Georgia in the most extensive and elaborate program to date for adult education. The Georgia Center for Continuing Education . . . is a completely self-contained enclave, in building and curriculum on the university's campus. Its program is unique."
The Interiors article mentioned a number of the designers and producers of the "state-of-'the-art" interior furnishings and treatments, which, in addition to Nelson, included Charles and Ray Eames, Georg Jensen, Bruno Mathsson, Herman Miller, Nessen, Marie Nichols, Janet Rosenbloom, Salterini, and Alexander Smith. The landscaping was done by Thomas Church of San Francisco. Also serving as consultants were Lewis Sarvis, architect of Battle Creek, Michigan, and Max Smith, who managed the hotel facilities of the Kellogg Center at Michigan State University.
In 1954, the periodical Progressive Architecture recognized the building with a "Citation" for "best design of its class in the educational field."
In addition to the publications cited, information was gathered from numerous in-house documents, including the Center's annual reports for 1953-1954, 1954-1955, and 1956-1957.
Web administrator: webmaster@gactr.uga.edu All contents copyright © 1997 University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education. All rights reserved. Last revised: Thu, Sep 18, 1997, 11:18 AM URL: http://www.gactr.uga.edu/GCQ/gcqsum97/building.html