The Burnett Center
Encyclopedia
The Howard J. Burnett Center, also known as The Burnett Center, is an academic building on the campus of Washington & Jefferson College
. This building, named after former President Howard J. Burnett
, was completed in 2001 at a cost of $
12.8 million. It houses the Departments of Economics and Business, Modern Languages, and Education.
It features 12 classrooms, several circular seminar rooms, computer labs, and the Yost Auditorium. Situated on the northeast border of campus, The Burnett Center is a cornerstone building. The exterior is constructed of granite and limestone, and a grassy plaza and fountain decorate the grounds outside. The interior features a large atrium, large vertical ribbon window assemblies, and cast iron fleur-de-lis balusters from a former residence hall. The architecture and masonry work won several national awards.
The twelve multimedia classrooms come in sizes and styles, allowing for a flexible teaching space, moveable seating, and outlets for laptop computers. At various times, it has also housed the entrepreneurial studies program, a small business institute, and an office of lifelong learning. The Yost Auditorium is an 84-seat lecture hall. The seminar rooms, located in the tower structure of the left side of the building, feature an 16-seat octagonal tables. The first floor has computer labs near the main entrance. The Burnett Center also has faculty and student lounges, a faculty kitchenette, and a curriculum library.
The building stands three stories tall and has 57000 square feet (5,295.5 m²) of floorspace. It is constructed of granite, limestone, slate, and copper, which is intended to match the older buildings on campus. The tower element on the left side of the building is intended to match the most prominent building on campus, Old Main
. The 30-degree bend at one end created a "cornerstone" effect on the campus' northeast property line. A false chimney houses mechanical equipment. The entrance plaza includes a fountain and a grassed bowl area in the lower plaza. The interior of the Burnett Center consists of cherry wood trim and doors, veneer plaster, wool carpet, and cove lighting. The railings include cast iron fleur-de-lis balusters from Hays Hall
, the first dormitory on campus that was demolished in 1994. The first floor has atrium spaces and a main staircase. The large vertical ribbon window assemblies provide a view of the rest of campus.
. The permits also authorized the demolition of houses at 288, 290, 300, and 308 East Wheeling Street, as well as and 218, 218, 220, 290, and 300 Grant Street. At the end of July, the zoning board issued a stay on those permits after hearing objections from the Washington County History and Landmarks Foundation. By 1995, the permits were restored and the construction was able to proceed.
Plans and fundraising for the building were performed by President Brian C. Mitchell
, who served as President of the College from 1998 to 2004. The building is named after Mitchell's predecessor, Howard J. Burnett
, who served as President from 1970 to 1998. Construction of the building, which cost $12.8 million, ran from December 1999 to June 2001. It was dedicated in October 2001. General contracting services were performed by The Landau Building Company. The building was designed by MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc. That firm was awarded the Louis I. Kahn Citation from the American School & University 2002 Design Competition, calling for Burnett "a striking edifice for the pursuit of academic excellence. The construction materials—granite, limestone, slate, and copper—create substantial quality.” The masonry sub-contractor Harris Masonry won the Excellence in Craftmanship Award from the Master Builders’ Association, saying that “The Weymouth Granite Ashlar veneer greatly enhances the traditional campus architecture of Washington & Jefferson College. The art of stone cutting and trimming rises to the highest level of beauty and reflects truly superb craftsmanship,” The masonry work also won the 2001 IMI Golden Trowel Award for "Excellence in Masonry Design and Construction." Griffin Interior created custom furniture for the building, including custom-built radiused desks for the computer rooms
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
. This building, named after former President Howard J. Burnett
Howard J. Burnett
Howard Jerome Burnett is a former president of Washington & Jefferson College.Burnett, a native of Holyoke, Massachusetts, earned a B.A. degree in political science from Amherst College in 1952; he earned magna cum laude honors and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. As a Rhodes Scholar, he studied at...
, was completed in 2001 at a cost of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
12.8 million. It houses the Departments of Economics and Business, Modern Languages, and Education.
It features 12 classrooms, several circular seminar rooms, computer labs, and the Yost Auditorium. Situated on the northeast border of campus, The Burnett Center is a cornerstone building. The exterior is constructed of granite and limestone, and a grassy plaza and fountain decorate the grounds outside. The interior features a large atrium, large vertical ribbon window assemblies, and cast iron fleur-de-lis balusters from a former residence hall. The architecture and masonry work won several national awards.
Facilities
The Burnett Center houses the Departments of Economics and Business, Modern Languages, and Education.The twelve multimedia classrooms come in sizes and styles, allowing for a flexible teaching space, moveable seating, and outlets for laptop computers. At various times, it has also housed the entrepreneurial studies program, a small business institute, and an office of lifelong learning. The Yost Auditorium is an 84-seat lecture hall. The seminar rooms, located in the tower structure of the left side of the building, feature an 16-seat octagonal tables. The first floor has computer labs near the main entrance. The Burnett Center also has faculty and student lounges, a faculty kitchenette, and a curriculum library.
The building stands three stories tall and has 57000 square feet (5,295.5 m²) of floorspace. It is constructed of granite, limestone, slate, and copper, which is intended to match the older buildings on campus. The tower element on the left side of the building is intended to match the most prominent building on campus, Old Main
Old Main (Washington & Jefferson College)
Old Main is the main academic building at Washington & Jefferson College. It is the predominant building on campus and has served virtually every student since its construction. Its two identical towers, added in 1875, symbolize the union of Washington College and Jefferson College to form...
. The 30-degree bend at one end created a "cornerstone" effect on the campus' northeast property line. A false chimney houses mechanical equipment. The entrance plaza includes a fountain and a grassed bowl area in the lower plaza. The interior of the Burnett Center consists of cherry wood trim and doors, veneer plaster, wool carpet, and cove lighting. The railings include cast iron fleur-de-lis balusters from Hays Hall
Hays Hall
Hays Hall was a residence hall at Washington & Jefferson College. The architectural work was performed by Frederick J. Osterling and it was named after President George P. Hays. Construction was completed in 1903 and the new "fireproof" building was opened to Washington & Jefferson Academy students...
, the first dormitory on campus that was demolished in 1994. The first floor has atrium spaces and a main staircase. The large vertical ribbon window assemblies provide a view of the rest of campus.
Construction and design
To prepare the site for construction, the college acquired a number of demolition permits from the zoning board, including permits allowing for the demolition of several houses, including 314, 322 and 330 East Wheeling Street, which were part of the East Washington Historic DistrictEast Washington Historic District
The East Washington Historic District is a historic district in East Washington, Pennsylvania that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
. The permits also authorized the demolition of houses at 288, 290, 300, and 308 East Wheeling Street, as well as and 218, 218, 220, 290, and 300 Grant Street. At the end of July, the zoning board issued a stay on those permits after hearing objections from the Washington County History and Landmarks Foundation. By 1995, the permits were restored and the construction was able to proceed.
Plans and fundraising for the building were performed by President Brian C. Mitchell
Brian C. Mitchell
Brian Christopher Mitchell is the former president of Bucknell University, serving from 2004 until 2010. From 1998 through 2004, he served as President of Washington & Jefferson College. He is a nationally recognized expert in higher education, especially on private higher education...
, who served as President of the College from 1998 to 2004. The building is named after Mitchell's predecessor, Howard J. Burnett
Howard J. Burnett
Howard Jerome Burnett is a former president of Washington & Jefferson College.Burnett, a native of Holyoke, Massachusetts, earned a B.A. degree in political science from Amherst College in 1952; he earned magna cum laude honors and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. As a Rhodes Scholar, he studied at...
, who served as President from 1970 to 1998. Construction of the building, which cost $12.8 million, ran from December 1999 to June 2001. It was dedicated in October 2001. General contracting services were performed by The Landau Building Company. The building was designed by MacLachlan, Cornelius & Filoni, Inc. That firm was awarded the Louis I. Kahn Citation from the American School & University 2002 Design Competition, calling for Burnett "a striking edifice for the pursuit of academic excellence. The construction materials—granite, limestone, slate, and copper—create substantial quality.” The masonry sub-contractor Harris Masonry won the Excellence in Craftmanship Award from the Master Builders’ Association, saying that “The Weymouth Granite Ashlar veneer greatly enhances the traditional campus architecture of Washington & Jefferson College. The art of stone cutting and trimming rises to the highest level of beauty and reflects truly superb craftsmanship,” The masonry work also won the 2001 IMI Golden Trowel Award for "Excellence in Masonry Design and Construction." Griffin Interior created custom furniture for the building, including custom-built radiused desks for the computer rooms