Upcoming Renovation in the Social Science Research Building

On Friday, July 31, 2020, Dean Amanda Woodward shared this announcement with the Division:

As you may know, the Division of the Social Sciences regularly receives comment from members of the University community about the swastika pattern of the staircase tilework in the Social Science Research Building. Over the years, the comments have included those advocating for its removal and those in favor of maintaining this historical feature of the building. After engaging in a consultative process with department chairs and University leadership to consider how to respond, we have identified a renovation that maintains the landing’s historic character in the Gothic Revival tradition.

On each of the landings in the main staircase, the tilework will be reinstalled with a two-color heraldic medallion that matches the existing black and plum slate. Designed by the University’s architect, this pattern builds upon the reference to the forms and symmetrical organization, as well as the orthogonal geometries, found in Gothic pattern making. The existing slate risers and treads that have been worn by the generations of scholars before us will not be changed.

The renovation will begin next week and is expected to be finished in early September. One stairwell will remain in service throughout the project, and as last summer during the renovation of the first floor hallway, protective barriers and air filtration will protect those limited number of faculty and staff presently accessing the building from dust.  

I appreciate the discussions that have helped inform this outcome and look forward to this work being completed well ahead of the start of the Autumn Quarter.