HomeMy WebLinkAboutGaines Hall (24GA1870) final
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
For the Montana National Register of Historic Places Program and State Antiquities Database
Montana State Historic Preservation Office
Montana Historical Society
PO Box 201202, 1410 8 th Ave
Helena, MT 59620-1202
Property Address: Montana State University Campus
Historic Address (if applicable): NA
City/Town: Bozeman
Site Number: 24GA1870
(An historic district number may also apply.)
County: Gallatin
Historic Name: Chemistry Building / Gaines Hall
Original Owner(s): Montana State College of Agriculture
& Mechanical Arts
Current Ownership Private Public
Current Property Name: Gaines Hall
Owner(s): Montana State University--Administration
Owner Address: 201 Main Hall / PO Box 172440
Bozeman, MT 59717-2440
Phone: 406-994-2001
Legal Location
PM: Montana Township: 2S Range: 5E
NW ¼ SE ¼ NW ¼ of Section: 13
Lot(s):
Block(s): 42
Addition: Capital Hill Year of Addition: 1890
USGS Quad Name: Bozeman Year: 1987
Historic Use: Classrooms, Offices, Laboratories
Current Use: Same
Construction Date: 1961 Estimated Actual
Original Location Moved Date Moved:
UTM Reference www.nris.mt.gov/topofinder2
NAD 27 or NAD 83(preferred )
Zone: 12 Easting: 496066 Northing: 5056882
National Register of Historic Places
NRHP Listing Date:
Historic District: Montana State University-Bozeman HD
NRHP Eligible: Yes No
Date of this document: April 15, 2013
Form Prepared by: Jessie Nunn / Consultant
Address: 600 Meadowlark Lane, Livingston, MT 59047
Daytime Phone: 406-208-8727
MT SHPO USE ONLY
Eligible for NRHP: yes X no
Criteria: A B C D
Date: October 2013
Evaluator: Kate Hampton
Comments: Non-contributor in MSU-Bozeman Historic
District – integrity/alterations.
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 2
Architectural Description
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION
Architectural Style: Other: If Other, specify:
Property Type: Education Specific Property Type:
Architect: Architectural Firm/City/State: Orr, Pickering & Associates / Billings, MT (1960); Dowling,
Sandholm Architects / Helena, MT (2010 Renovation)
Builder/Contractor: Company/City/State: Haggerty-Messmer Company / Bozeman, MT (general, 1961);
Midland Plumbing & Heating / Billings, MT (mechanical, 1961); F.L. Dye Company / Bozeman, MT (electrical. 1961)
BNBuilders, Inc. / Seattle, WA & Florence, MT (2010 Renovation)
Source of Information: University Records, 61-0002; MSU Facilities Website
Setting & Location
Gaines Hall is located along Grant Street and is immediately west of the 1922 Romney Gymnasium and east of the Visual
Communications Building (1983). It sits at the southeastern edge of the spacious oval lawn north of Romney Gymnasium,
open space that had been part of the 1917 George Carsley / Cass Gilbert Plan’s north / south axial arrangement. Outside
of the Italian Renaissance Revival style Romney Gymnasium and Traphagen Hall (located at the northwest corner of the
lawn), the lawn is surrounded by Mid-Century Modern style buildings or additions including Reid Hall (1959) and the 1960
Renne Library addition to the north, the 1967 Student Union addition and A.J.M. Johnson Hall (1954) to the east and
Gaines Hall (1961) to the northwest. Gaines Hall, originally a Modern style building with curtain wall north and south
elevations, was completely renovated in 2010. Overall, the area is characterized by academic, service and classroom
buildings originally intended to serve a large percentage of the campus community. Athletic buildings including the Marga
Hosaeus Fitness Center (1973, renovated 2008) and Brick Breeden Fieldhouse (1958) are found south of Grant Street.
Summary
Originally constructed in 1961 and completed 1967, Gaines Hall was a four-story, reinforced concrete Modern style
building with a curtain wall façade designed by the Billings, Montana architectural firm, Orr Pickering & Associates. A 2010
renovation by Dowling, Sandholm Architects of Helena, Montana completely transformed Gaines Hall by stripping the
building to its concrete frame and creating an entirely new modern building envelope. The building’s one-story north wing,
which housed a 330 seat lecture hall, was also removed during the renovation. The approximately 230’ x 70’ original
building has been completely covered in the new building envelope, a 190’ x 60’ extension was added to the south façade
and a new angular, one-story entrance was added to the north façade. Steeply-pitched shed roofs were also added on
either side of projecting towers on the long elevations (only the north tower is original) adding a fifth story to the south
façade, where the roofs have a dramatic overhang supported by massive metal tube brackets. The 2010 building
envelope is clad in red brick laid in a running bond and prefinished corrugated metal siding. Windows are typically one-
over-one light metal units finished in black. Due to the slope of the site from west to east, only three stories are visible on
the east side of the building.
South Façade
The originally symmetrical south façade had twelve bays defined by brick pilasters with a recessed, central, ground-level
entrance containing double metal doors with rectangular lights, sidelights and a transom. On each story, the bays
contained four aluminum one-light windows between precast stone spandrel panels. A slightly set back solid brick wall
was located on both ends of the façade. The 2010 renovation transformed this elevation, which is approximately 195’
long, into an asymmetrical modern façade with a series of shorter projections on its western half. Offset to the east is a
new projecting stair tower, which is approximately 40’ wide and has a slightly taller roof than the original building’s flat
roof. The new overhanging shed roofs, which create a fifth story on the façade, begin above the tower projection and
extend to the sides of the façade’s projecting wall. The roofs have exposed beams and overhanging eaves supported by
large metal tube brackets with the longer west roof having six brackets and the east roof three brackets. All brackets
extend from projecting brick pilasters, which define the building’s bays. Dark grey prefinished corrugated metal siding
covers the fifth story on the façade and on the side elevations as it diminishes to the north.
Gaines Hall has a one-and-a-half-story flat-roofed glass and brick entrance structure that projects off the façade’s stair
tower. This projection extends approximately 30’ from the south wall of the tower and has a Neo-craftsman canopy at the
first story level that wraps around its south and west elevations. The canopy has exposed rafter tails and is supported by
paired metal tube brackets attached to the entrance structure’s southeast and northeast brick corner piers. A panel of
glass is found between the canopy roof and the tops of both piers. Above the canopy is a half-story window wall
penthouse of dark reflective lights with metal mullions finished in black. The main entrance is found on the south wall and
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 3
Architectural Description
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
includes two double metal-framed glass doors surrounded by a window wall that terminates to the west at a short brick
wall with a soldier course at its midsection and to the east at the entrance structure’s southeast corner pier. Between the
corner piers on the east-facing wall is a secondary entrance of double metal-framed glass doors surrounded by a sidelight
and transom window wall. The northeast pier sits against the main building’s projecting tower, which is solid brick except
on its slightly recessed southeast corner. Here the three lower stories have a window wall capped by band of aluminum
siding and a projecting continuous metal “roof” or lintel that acts as a sill for the next story. Aluminum siding covers the
fourth story of tower’s recessed southeast corner.
There are five bays to the east of the south façade’s tower: three window bays to the west, a corner window wall bay and
the setback brick wall on the east end. On the second, third and fourth stories (the first story is below grade), each window
bay contains three evenly-spaced one-over-one light windows. There is a panel of prefinished corrugated metal siding
above second and third story widows and between the fourth story windows, which have a continuous metal beam lintel.
More prefinished corrugated metal siding is found between the lintel and a projecting band of aluminum siding that
separates the fourth story from the new fifth story created by the shed roofs. The corrugated metal-clad fifth story is
divided horizontally by a metal beam and has four windowless bays. There is a large louver vent in third bay from the
west. The corner bay has a window wall unit at each story capped by a projecting band of aluminum siding. The final bay
east of the south façade’s tower is the setback brick wall. Here the band of aluminum siding separating the fourth and fifth
stories in the other bays continues along the roofline as coping, which wraps around the building’s remaining elevations.
Finally, soldier brick stringcourses are found above second story widows and below fourth story widows, a decorative
feature found almost everywhere the building is clad in brick.
The upper (fourth and fifth) stories west of the tower are identical to those found to the east, except there are seven bays.
Lower stories, however, are obscured by a series of flat-roofed projections that extend approximately 50’ south of the
main building. The first of these is one-story and sits immediately against the west half of the tower and the west side of
the entrance projection. It is approximately 12’ wide and has a solid brick east wall that extends slightly beyond its south
wall, which contains a widow wall with a metal beam lintel. Prefinished corrugated metal siding is found above the lintel
and at the roofline of the east wall. The soldier brick stringcourse that begins on the brick wall west of the main entrance
continues along the east-facing wall of this projection and also carries through to the next projection, an approximately 20’
wide, three-story solid brick structure punctured only by two first-story windows on its south elevation and a louvered vent
on its east elevation. A second solider brick stringcourse is located several feet above the first stringcourse and there is a
rowlock course of brick at the roofline on this projection. Both stringcourses carry over to the massive brick “piers” found
at the southwest and northwest corners of façade’s final projection. These piers are actually just face brick that extends
from the now exposed concrete foundation through the tall parapet roofs found at the corners of the projection’s west end.
In addition to the stringcourses, these brick sections also have a soldier course above the foundation and at the roofline.
Four progressively shorter walls clad in prefinished corrugated metal siding are found between the façade’s second brick
projection and the brick section at its southwest corner. They are divided horizontally by a wide metal beam and each has
a vertical metal beam on its western end. All but the eastern wall have a column of aluminum siding on their east end. A
single wall clad in prefinished corrugated metal siding is found between the brick section on the projection’s west end. It
too is divided horizontally by a metal beam.
East and West Side Elevations
Prior to the 2010 renovation, the shorter side elevations of Gaines Hall were simple brick walls with grade level entrances
offset slightly to the south and louvered vents in each story above the entrance. Today, they remain relatively simplistic,
particularly when compared to the complex south façade. Each consists of a full-height central panel covered in five
column of prefinished corrugated siding and flanked by solid brick walls. The east elevation has a grade-level (second
story) entrance with a single metal-framed glass door, large sidelight and a transom immediately against the southern
brick wall. Above the entrance are paired one-over-one light windows in the third and fourth stories. Three square one-
light windows are found to the north of the entrance on the ground-level (second) story. A band of aluminum siding
decorates the roofline. The building’s fifth story, created by the new shed roof, is setback above the roofline, diminishing
gradually in height as it slopes down to its northern terminus. The west elevation is identical, except it has a first story
entrance with three windows above it and lacks the widows to the north of the entrance.
North (Rear) Elevation
Like the south façade, the north elevation has a projecting stair tower offset slightly to east. On this elevation, which had
the same curtain wall configuration as the façade, however, the tower was part of the original design. A short two story
annex off the tower connected the main building to the trapezoid-shaped lecture hall to north. Both the annex and the
lecture hall were removed during the 2010 renovation and a trapezoidal projection now wraps around the tower, which
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 4
Architectural Description
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
was renovated to match the south façade’s tower. The projection, which transitions from one to two stories as it moves
west due to the slope of the site, is approximately 68’ wide with a shorter (32’) east end and a longer (50’) west end. It is
offset dramatically to west with its east wall extending only about 7’ beyond the tower and the west wall extending almost
25’. The north entrance is located on the east-facing wall of the projection, immediately against elevation’s main wall face,
and is protected by a flat-roofed canopy with exposed beams that is supported by a metal brace with a concrete
foundation. The projection’s east wall and the east end of its north wall are clad in corrugated metal siding, while the
remainder is clad in brick. Two one-over-one light windows are located to the north of the entrance on the east wall, and
two closely-spaced one-over-one windows are found in the metal siding section of the south wall. The brick section of the
north wall has fourth evenly-spaced one-over-one windows and the all-brick west wall has three evenly-spaced windows.
A faux concrete foundation replete with pilasters starts at grade on the projection’s northeast corner and continues along
the lower portion of the north wall. Except for at its northwest corner, where it is all brick, the roofline of the projection is
defined by a heavy metal beam below a band of corrugated metal siding. A concrete loading dock with stairs leading to a
recessed entrance is found on the south end of projection’s west wall. A single window is located north of the entrance.
Brick pilasters define four bays to the east and six bays to the west of the tower. Due to slope of the site, the east bays
have three stories (2-4) and the west bays have four stories (1-4). Excepting the bays immediately against the tower,
portions of which are covered by the entrance projection, each bay contains three evenly-spaced one-over-one windows.
Similar to the fenestration on the facade, first, second and third story windows are capped by panels of prefinished
corrugated metal siding. Fourth story windows on this elevation are surrounded by prefinished corrugated metal siding,
but lack the continuous beam lintel found above the façade’s fourth story windows. On the inner bays, the entrance
projection covers all but the outer window of the second story east of the tower and the entire first and second stories
west of the tower. A band of aluminum siding is found at the roofline of this elevation. The short south ends of the shed
roofs, which are clad in prefinished corrugated metal siding, are setback above rear elevation’s roof. Here, the shed roofs
have curved metal bracing and slightly overhanging eaves siting on exposed rafter beams. Located behind the rear
elevation’s tower, four metal smokestacks rise dramatically above the roofline.
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 5
History of Property
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
HISTORY OF PROPERTY
Development of Montana State University Campus
Montana State University was founded on February 16, 1893 (four years after statehood) as Montana’s land grant college
under the Morrill Act of 1862. It has the distinction of being Montana’s first legislatively-created public university, with the
University of Montana in Missoula being created the following day. Initially called the Agricultural College of the State of
Montana, the new college was situated on a 200-acre site, part of which had been platted as the Capital Hill Addition in a
(failed) bid for the State Capital. Bozeman citizens raised funds to purchase half the land, and Gallatin County donated
the other half, which included the County poor farm. The first purpose-built building on campus was the Agricultural
Experiment Station (Taylor Hall) constructed in 1894. Main Hall (or Montana Hall), the centerpiece of the campus, was
completed in 1898. The construction of the Neo-classical Revival style Agricultural Building (Linfield Hall) in 1909 further
illustrated the primary role of agriculture at Montana State. In 1913, the college was renamed the Montana State College
of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts (MSC).
The college anticipated a period of expansion after World War I, and contracted with Montana architect, George Carsley,
and nationally-known landscape architect, Cass Gilbert, to develop a campus plan, now known as the “1917 George
Carsley / Cass Gilbert Plan.” This plan, which exhibited a formal Beaux-Arts symmetry, was adopted by the Montana
State Board of Education in 1920 and guided campus development until the outbreak of World War II. Its implementation
was assisted by a $5 million bond to fund building development programs on all of Montana’s campuses. At MSC this
resulted in the construction of several Italian Renaissance Revival buildings, including Roberts Hall, Traphagen Hall,
Lewis Hall, Harrick Hall, Romney Gymnasium and the Heating Plant.
MSC continued to grow and evolve during the Great Depression and World War II. This was spurred in part by the growth
of the Extension Service under the New Deal’s Agricultural Adjustment Administration, an increase in unemployed
students who enrolled in the years from 1932 to 1939 and expanded military training (including a flight school) during
World War II. The 1935 “Quads,” a women’s dormitory financed through the Works Progress Administration, and the
oldest portion of the Student Union, completed in 1940, were the era’s most significant additions to campus. Both were
designed by Bozeman architect, Fred F. Willson, in the Tudor Revival style. Slight deviations from the 1917 George
Carsley / Cass Gilbert Plan during the mid-1940s resulted from a desire for new buildings alongside a need to curb paving
and heating costs by reducing the space between buildings.
Along with colleges and universities across the nation, MSC expanded to accommodate students attending college under
the “GI Bill” after World War II. The square footage of campus buildings doubled in the following decades. At this time,
further departures were also made from the 1917 George Carsley / Cass Gilbert Plan as growth demanded expansion
beyond its boundaries and within its open spaces. The Renne Library (1949) and the small Danforth Chapel (1952),
MSC’s first Modern style building, were the era’s earliest additions to campus but several others followed during the 1950s
and early 1960s. Four Mid-Century Modern dormitories were added to the northern end of campus and new academic
buildings, including Reid Hall and the Math-Physics Building (AJM Johnson Hall), were erected in open spaces south of
Garfield Street. Several older buildings also received significant Modern style additions, including Renne Library and
Linfield and Lewis Halls. The result was a campus showcasing a dynamic blend of revivalist and modernist styles.
The college was re-named Montana State University (MSU) in 1965, and the high-rise dormitories (Hedges and Roskie
Halls) that would symbolize the modern era were completed by 1967. More buildings were added in the 1970s as MSU
replaced all of its temporary frame buildings with permanent structures. Growth slowed during the 1980s through the
beginning of the 21 st century in the core campus area, although a few new buildings (Visual Communications, the EPS
Building and the Chemistry & Biochemistry Building) were added. Many older buildings have also undergone significant
alterations in recent decades. Perhaps the greatest addition to campus during the contemporary period was Centennial
Mall along what was once Garfield Street. In providing a strong east-west linear focus, the well-landscaped pedestrian
mall was actually a return to the axial arrangement of 1917 George Carsley / Cass Gilbert Plan. Today the MSU campus
represents a blend of early formal planning, post-war expansion and contemporary buildings that respond to current
needs. It offers an excellent example of the evolution of campus planning in Montana. (Burlingame, in passim; Painter,
Montana Property Record Form for Langford Hall.)
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 6
History of Property
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
Gaines Hall (Chemistry III)
Adequately housing the Chemistry and Physics Departments at Montana State College (MSC) was an ongoing challenge.
The first “Chemistry Building,” constructed alongside Montana Hall in 1897 was a three-story Italianate brick building with
a square tower and copula centered on its north façade. Destroyed by fire in 1916, it housed the chemical and physics
laboratories. (Burlingame, 24). While the Physics Department would be relegated to the basement, and later an annex, of
Montana Hall until construction of the Math-Physics Building in 1954, the Chemistry Department would not have to wait
long for a new home. Out of the its portion of the $5 million bond authorized by the Montana Legislature in 1920, MSC
built a new Chemistry Building (Traphagen Hall) along with five other Italian Renaissance Revival buildings. The second
Chemistry Building, located to the southwest of Main Hall in accordance with the 1917 Carsley / Gilbert Campus Plan,
was a three-and-one-half story brick structure designed to include a later addition on its south end. The addition, however,
never materialized—even after the College applied for a PWA grant in 1935—leaving an asymmetrical façade with a
hipped north end and a gabled south end. In essence, Chemistry II was too small from the very beginning and by the end
of World War II it was wholly unsuitable for a department that now taught nearly 900 students per year, was the only
accredited program in the Northern Rockies (the next closest accredited program was at the University of Utah) and had
recently produced three of Montana’s four Rhoades Scholars. (Renne,1945). Still, in 1945, the College requested only
that the building’s already designed addition be completed. When the State Legislature finally authorized construction to
improve facilities for the Chemistry Department in c. 1960, an entirely new building was needed.
MSC retained the Billings, Montana architectural firm, Orr Pickering & Associates to design the four-story, brick-clad
Modern style building, which would run east/west along Grant Street to the west of Romney Gymnasium. A wing housing
a large lecture hall would extend off the north elevation. Bids were opened in September of 1960, with Haggerty-Messmer
Company of Bozeman receiving the general contract (Item 185-204). Construction stalled, however, when the State
Legislature banned the use of student fees for campus construction, leaving the Exponent to report, “the new chemistry
building…has a long way to go before it will be completed. No one knows precisely when it will be done.” ( Exponent ,
11/3/1961). As MSC searched for alternative funding, the College was at least able to utilize the large, 347-capacity
lecture hall, which was completed by the close of 1961. The Alumni Association and the Endowment and Research
Foundation attempted to rescue the Chemistry Building, along with an underfunded addition to the library, in 1962. They
were able to raise sufficient money to restart construction under the supervision of MSC Architect, H. C. Cheever, but not
to complete the building. A 1965 attempt to obtain state funding also failed, and the project languished until 1967 when
private research grants finally allowed for the completion of MSC’s third Chemistry Building. (Item 185-204; Burlingame,
192; Whalen to Haggerty-Messmer, 1/11/1963). Upon completion, the almost 80,000 square foot building housed physical
chemistry on its ground floor, general and inorganic chemistry on the main floor, analytical and organic chemistry on the
second floor and biochemistry and the Chemistry Experiment Station on the third floor. ( Exponent , 11/3/1961).
Almost immediately after its completion, the new Chemistry Building was renamed Gaines Hall in honor of Paschel C.
Gaines, Head of the Chemistry Department from 1946 to 1957 and Acting University President on four occasions. The
building continued to serve its original function until completion of the new Chemistry and Biochemistry Building in 2007. A
recent (2010) renovation completely transformed the building. It now houses undergraduate teaching laboratories for
chemistry, biochemistry, physics, earth sciences and biology, in addition to several classrooms and a large, 270-person
lecture hall. It is also home to the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. (MSU Website, “Gaines Hall).
Orr Pickering & Associates
Orr Pickering worked as an architect in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington, gaining AIA membership in 1941. In
addition to Gaines Hall at MSU, Pickering also designed the Union Bank and Trust Building (1958) in Helena, Riverside
Junior High School (1961) in Billings and a 1963 renovation at Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park. Between
1956 and 1962, Pickering’s firm incorporated, and by 1962 he employed four other architects and engineers. He died on
July 4, 1964. (AIA Directories 1956 and 1962, Painter, 109; NPS; MSU Architectural Drawings).
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 7
Information Sources/Bibliography
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
INFORMATION SOURCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
AIA. “American Architects Directory,” 1956 and 1962. Accessed online at
http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/Home.aspx
Building Master List. Physical Plant Records, Montana State University.
Burlingame, Merrill. A History: Montana State University. Bozeman, Montana. Bozeman, MT: Office of Information
Publication, February 1968.
Cook, William B. (Head, Department of Chemistry). Letter to MSC President Leon Johnson, 27 July 1964. Universtiy
Records, 61-0002.
Montana State Board of Education. “Item 185-204, Completion of Chemistry Building, Montana State College,” 11
December 1962. University Records, 61-0002.
Montana State Unviersity. “Gaines Hall,” Website accessed online at
http://calendar.msu.montana.edu/locations.php?building=6&ref=map .
Montana State Unversity Library. “Riverside Junior High School,” Montana Architectural Drawings Collection, accessed
online at http://arc.lib.montana.edu/architect/item/536 .
National Park Service. “Old Faithul Inn” Finding Aid, accessed online at
http://www.nps.gov/yell/historyculture/upload/of_inn.pdf .
“New Chemistry Building Approching Completion,” Montana Exonent , 3 November 1961.
Orr Pickering & Associates, “Specifications, Chemistry Building, Montana State College,” c. 1961, Univerity Records, 61-
0002.
Painter, Diane J. Montana Post-World War II Architectural Survey and Inventory: Historic Context and Survey Report ,
December 2010.
Painter, Diane J. “Langford Hall, Montana Property Record Form,” July 18, 2010. Montana State Preservation Office.
Renne, Ronald R. “Explanation of Proposed Completion and Addition to Chemistry Building,” 1945.
Sanford, Dena. “Traphagen Hall, Montana Historic Proprety Record Form,” 1990. Montana State Historic Preservation
Office.
Whalen, M. F. (Director, MSU Physical Plant). Letter to Haggerty-Messmer Company, 11 January 1963. University
Records, 61-0002.
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 8
Statement of Significance
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
NRHP Listing Date: NA
NRHP Eligibility: Yes No Individually Contributing to Historic District Noncontributing to Historic District
NRHP Criteria: A B C D
Area of Significance: Period of Significance:
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
While Gaines Hall (1961-1967) is importantly associated with the continued growth and prominence of chemistry in the
curriculum at Montana State University, and was once an excellent example of Modern architecture, it is no longer eligible
for National Register listing due to a substantial loss of integrity, the result of a 2010 renovation. (See below). Its
contributing status, however, should be reconsidered in future amendments and extensions to the historic district. In the
future, the building may serve as an excellent example of a major renovation project that also reflects Montana State
University’s evolving need for science education facilities.
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 9
Integrity
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
INTEGRITY (location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, association)
Gaines Hall underwent a complete renovation in 2010 that has rendered it unrecognizable. The northern lecture hall wing
was removed and the main wing was stripped to its frame and encased in a new Modern building envelope. A new
extension was added to south façade and a new one-story entrance was added to the north elevation. Steeply-pitched
shed roofs supported by massive metal tube brackets were also added creating a fifth story to the south façade. The 2010
building envelope is clad in red brick laid in a running bond and prefinished corrugated metal siding. While Gaines Hall
does retain its original setting and location, the massive alterations to its design, materials and workmanship mean it no
longer conveys any of its previous associational or architectural significance.
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 10
Photographs
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
Gaines Hall
South Façade, Facing: NW
Montana State University
Jessie Nunn, January 5, 2013
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 11
Photographs
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
Gaines Hall
East Elevation, Facing: W
Montana State University
Jessie Nunn, January 5, 2013
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 12
Photographs
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
Gaines Hall
North Elevation, Facing: SW
Montana State University
Jessie Nunn, January 5, 2013
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 13
Photographs
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
Gaines Hall
North Elevation, Facing: SE
Montana State University
Jessie Nunn, January 5, 2013
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 14
Photographs
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
Gaines Hall
West Elevation & West End of South Façade, Facing: NE
Montana State University
Jessie Nunn, January 5, 2012
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 15
Photographs
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
Gaines Hall, South Façade, 2005. “Buildings of MSU,” MSU Communications & Public Affairs Website.
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 16
Photographs
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
Gaines Hall under construction, North Elevation, (MSU Library, Digital Historic Photo Collection, Photo ID: parc-00037)
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 17
Photographs
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
MSC Campus, Circa 1964, with Gaines Hall at lower right. MSU Library, Digital Historic Photograph Collection,
Photo ID: parc-000174
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 18
Site Map
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870
MONTANA HISTORIC PROPERTY RECORD
PAGE 19
Topographic Map
Property Name: Gaines Hall Site Number: 24GA1870