Mechanical Hall Gallery
Teaching in Mechanical Hall Gallery
Mechanical Hall opened in 2004, following an extensive renovation by Ziger/Snead Architects that transformed the building into three art galleries, Museums offices, a study room, and art storage. The modern renovation expanded the Museums capacity and facilitated a significant bequest of African American art from the Atlanta-based collector, Paul R. Jones (1928-2010). The original building was constructed in 1898 to house classrooms for mechanical and electrical engineering and later served as a ROTC facility. As with its neighboring building Old College, Mechanical Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Paul R. Jones gift has served as a point of departure for a growing collection of African American art. This collection includes the founding Paul R. Jones gift, rich in art by artists from the mid-Atlantic region, a broad range of prints from the Brandywine Workshop in Philadelphia, a large group of prints from the Experimental Printmaking Institute at Lafayette College, important photographs by P.H. Polk, significant, representative works by Delaware artist Edward L. Loper, Sr. Recent acquisitions include work by Jarvis Boyland, Phoebe Beasley, Justyne Fischer, Theodore A. Harris, Delita Martin, and Jane Mitchell to name a few.
Exterior of Mechanical Hall
National Register of Historic Places plaque, Mechanical Hall