Goodnight Raleigh - a look at the art, architecture, history, and people of the city at night

Harrelson Hall and its Ultimate Demise

By a somewhat coincidence, the topic of Harrelson Hall came up at work shortly before I had planned to write about it. Considering the location (brickyard) and that it houses math and foreign language classes, everyone that went to NCSU is familiar with it and has some sort of opinion on it–usually negative. The folks I work with were no exception.

It seems as though the the talk of its destruction has been going on for at least a few years now. Wikipedia says that

Future plans call for the demolition and reconstruction of Harrelson Hall after a temporary hall has been constructed. A rebuilding plan was chosen after the estimated expenses for remodeling were compiled and deemed too costly.

Jason, a friend from work, said during the discussion that Harrelson Hall was often the base for some recurring dreams he’s had. I don’t find it that surprising. There are somewhat unreal elements to it. Getting to where you need to go is often a pain.

No one I know seems terribly sad that it is going to be torn down, myself included. Occasionally, function and practicality are more important than historical significance (first cylindrical building on a college campus).

    • What are your experiences in this building?
    • Any quirks you remember when having classes here?
    • What are your thoughts on its inevitable demise?