Simons Hall (formerly Engel Hall, the Science Building)

Simons Hall (click thumbnails for larger images)

Architect: Raphael Knapp, OSB; renovation: Rafferty, Rafferty, Tollefson

Contractor: Local labor

Dates:

• 1910: Built
• 1941: Addition
• 1989: Renovated
• 1967 and 2000: Renamed

See also St. John’s First Science Hall (PowerPoint PDF)

In May of 1909, Abbot Peter Engel, OSB, decided to proceed with plans to build a separate building for the sciences at Saint John’s. The site selected was about fifty feet north of the gymnasium where an old carpenter shop stood. The plans called for a three storey building with basement (60×100) and costing around $40,000. Material for the structure would be pressed brick with the floors and stairs of reinforced concrete (this was the first use off reinforced concrete at Saint John’s). Ground was broken on May 8, 1910 and work began rapidly. The only incident of note during the construction was the injury of the workman, Mr. Sebastian Meyer, who was hit on the head by a wheel barrow falling from the second floor. He was seriously injured, but eventually recovered.

On June 21, 1911, during an alumni reunion, the new Science Hall was dedicated and was readied for classes on the opening day of school, September 7, 1911. The meteorological observatory, since 1892 located in the tower above the main quadrangle building, was transferred to the top of the Science Hall and remained there until 1942. In the 1920’s a radio station with two transmitters was installed on the first floor. Radio WFBJ was one of the pioneer stations in the Upper Midwest. The first renovation of the Science Hall was accomplished over the summer of 1930. In 1941 a foundry was added on to the building greatly increasing the amount of space for the shop class to work. The foundry was converted into a chemistry laboratory in 1958. In 1967 the new science building was built and the old building was renamed Engel Hall. After the natural sciences moved to the new building, Engel Hall became the home of the social sciences and the art department. A new art building was built in 1988 freeing the space the department had used on the 3rd floor of Engel. In conjunction with the new art building Engel Hall was renovated to make the classrooms more up to date and accommodating for classes. 

In 1999, in recognition of a deferred gift by Bob and Anne Simons, Engel Hall was renamed Simons Hall. The remodeled Science Hall, designed by Marcel Breuer and built in 1965, was then renamed the Abbot Peter Engel Science Building (and commonly referred to as “Pengel” because of its abbreviation on maps and registration materials).

In October 2010 the north entrance underwent some modifications to correct a recurrent issue with storm water drainage.

Today Simons Hall is the center for the social sciences department (accounting, economics, management, sociology). Simons Hall is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Bibliography:

• “Locals,” The Record, July 1910, p.330.  
• Henry, William. “New Foundry Triples Shop Class Facilities.” The Record, 12 February 1942, p.1. [alternate scan]
• “Non Recuso Laborem,” Scriptorium, May 1942, p. 10. 
• Rolfson, Fr. Gunther O.S.B. “Our Scientific Endeavor,” Scriptorium, Christmas 1944, p. 37-38
• “Foundry Converted to Chemistry Laboratory in Science Hall Renovation.” The Record, 25 July 1958, p.1. 
• “Plans for Art Building Set; Loan will Enable Engel Hall Renovation.” The Record, 20 October 1988, p.1.
• “Progress Reported in Art Center, Engel Hall Planning.” The Record, 16 March 1989, p.1.
• Perry, Steve. “Engel Nears Completion, Tennis Courts Best Ever.” The Record, 28 September 1989, p.4. 
• “Engel Hall Renovation nears completion“, The Independent, 21 November 1989, p. 3
• “Simons Donate $2.5 Million to Saint John’s; Buildings Re-named.” Saint John’s, Winter 1999, p.6.
• “St. John’s First Science Hall” (PowerPoint created in 2010).
• Ahmann, Pete. “Simons Personified Benedictine Humility.” Advancing Saint John’s [blog], June 19, 2018.
• SJU Alumni Magazine, Dec. 1999, p. 6

See Also:

• “Non Recuso Laborem,” Scriptorium, v.2 n.4, 1942, p.10.
• “Science Men Rearrange Hall,” The Record, 10 April 1930, p.3.
• “Science Hall Undergoes Changes in Space Facilities,” The Record, 25 April 1930, p.2.
• “Equipment,” Saint John’s University Catalog, 1911-1912, p.16.
• “New Views of the St. John’s Art Department,” photos, The Record, 26 February 1954, p.4.
• “The New Science Center,” Alumni Magazine, v.7 n.2, 1967, p.7.
• “Dedication of Science Center Reaches Finale,” The Record, 15 November 1967, p.1.
• “Science Dedication Starts Next Month,” The Record, 17 April 1967, p.1.
• “Science Hall Progress Awaits New Equipment,” The Record, 29 April 1966, p.3.
• “SJU Science Hall Plans Disclosed,” The Record, 18 September 1964, p.1.