Ricketts Campus

Palmer Ricketts, a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute alum and professor, became the ninth Institute Director in 1892. During his administration, in 1901, his role was expanded to President. He held this title until he died in 1934. Ricketts used his role as President to expand the campus physically in number of academic buildings as well as student population. During his administration, "ten major academic buildings and twenty-nine dormitory units were constructed." He also added degree programs in mechanical, chemical, metallurgical, aeronautical, and industrial engineering, as well as architecture.

Construction and Location

The building began construction in 1933 and was finished in 1935. It was called Van Rensselaer Hall during construction, and became the Ricketts Building upon completion in honor of Palmer Ricketts, who died during its construction. Its location is between the '87 Gym and the Troy Building along Sage Avenue. It is built of brick and limestone, with steel and concrete floors. The interior was made of tiles and looked similar in and out to the other buildings constructed during Ricketts' Presidency. The building was the first on campus to have a welded steel frame. Ricketts intended to construct the building as solid as possible in order to make its laboratories "among the best of their kind."

Purpose

Ricketts intended the building to house laboratories for newly introduced degree programs, namely aeronautical, metallurgical, and chemical engineering. One laboratory was made for each degree, and a wind tunnel and engine testing department was made specifically for aeronautical research. The labs were spread throughout the building, taking up parts of almost every floor, excluding the second floor. The remaining space in the building was designated as offices, common lecture rooms, and common recitation rooms. The building allowed for specialized research on new degree programs while also expanding general teaching and staffing room on campus in order to accommodate for the growing student body.