page_title: History of Valdosta State University
section_title: Construction Boom
hierarchical_section_title: History of Valdosta State University / Valdosta State College / Construction Boom
caption_attribution_description: English: Design of the Education Center at then Valdosta State College, now Valdosta State University.
context_page_description: Valdosta State University was established in 1906 in Valdosta, Georgia. South Georgia State Normal College began as a two-year teaching college in 1913 and was an all-female school until 1950 when the name was changed to Valdosta State College. VSC experienced rapid growth in the 1960s and 70s in student population and in construction on campus. In 1993 Valdosta State achieved university status and became the second regional university in the state of Georgia. Since its founding VSU has grown into a co-educational regional university with over 12,000 students.
context_section_description: Dr. Thaxton retired for health reasons in 1966, and Dr. S. Walter Martin, former president of Emory University and Vice Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, assumed the presidency.  Dr. Sidney Walter Martin presided over a time of physical growth and social change for the college. Although some of the construction projects had begun under Dr. Thaxton's administration, Dr. Martin's tenure coincided with the biggest building boom in the college's history. As well, new programs were begun in Nursing and the Air Force ROTC.
  In 1966, construction was completed on the Science Administration Building (later named Nevins Hall) which included a 60-occupancy planetarium. Construction was also in progress on Brown and Lowndes Residence Halls, each occupying 200 students, and Hopper Hall, named for former Dean of Women at VSC, Annie Hopper. All three residence halls were formally arranged to create small intimate quadrangles at their new sites on campus. 
  In 1967, construction began on the Student Union. The building replaced the former Student Center converted-gymnasium and enclosed one corner of the swimming pool. The Union contained the University snack bar, book store, radio station WVVS, mail services, the offices of the University Union Board, Student Government Association, the yearbook, and newspaper editorial offices.
  At around this same time, planning for a new school library at the southern edge of campus provokes the elimination of vehicular traffic from the main campus, beginning first with the closure of the east west street connecting Patterson to Oak Street. Since the 1930s, and following increased use of automobiles, the original axial pedestrian paths that ran through the center of campus had evolved into paved vehicular roads.
  In 1968, construction began on Langdale Hall at the northern edge of campus and necessitated the demolition of the "House in the Woods". The 5-story dormitory became the tallest building on campus.  In the following year, construction began on the adjacent Georgia Hall, a 3-story dormitory housing 200 students. Additional signals of the increase in admissions included the addition of two wings to the Dining Hall and the diversion of One Mile Branch Creek for the construction of a surface parking lot near Sunset Hill Cemetery.
  The density of the campus core continued to increase with the substantial west addition to Nevins Hall in 1970 which effectively doubled the building size, making it the primary classroom facility for the college.
  In 1970, the new Fine Arts Building was dedicated to house the Departments of Art, Music, Speech, and Drama. The 83,000-square-foot (7,700 m²) building was funded through President Johnson's Higher Education Facilities Program and included studios, offices, gallery, lab theater, 244-seat theater, 200-seat auditorium, and media studios.
  In 1972, the new Library was dedicated on the site of the former tennis courts between the College Union and Brown Hall. Conceived as a new learning center for the campus, the 3-story, 100,000-square-foot (9,300 m²) building was a notable departure from the school's original Spanish Mission, and later Gothic-inspired architectural styles. The building was designed in a style referred to as the New Formalism, developed in the mid-1950s as practitioners of modernism sought new modes of expression not so tightly bound by the rigid formula of the American version of the International Style.  Unique to the design were the integration of the building entrance with the landscape and the use of a wide ceremonial stair which extended from the axis of Blazer Boulevard.
  In 1973 the 71,000-square-foot (6,600 m²) Regional Education Center, was completed to house the School of Education, Division of Public Services, Learning Skills Laboratory, and College Counseling located across from the main campus at the intersection of Baytree and Oak Street, the building design was also conceived in the New Formalist style.
caption: Design for the Education Building
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