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Building History

The University of Washington named this residence hall for Charles C. Terry, (1830-1867) one of the Euro-American donors of land for the school's first campus. Lander Hall, named for Judge Edward Lander, (1816-1907), another original campus land donor (along with Arthur A. Denny [1822-1889] and his wife, Mary Ann Boren Denny, [1822-1910]), was completed in 1957. Architects Young, Richardson, Carleton and Detlie designed both halls, reflective of what Norman Johnston has called a "cautious modernism." (See Norman Johnston, "Terry-Lander Halls," The Campus Guide University of Washington, [New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2001], p. 107.)

The Seattle architectural partnership of Young, Richardson, Carleton and Detlie, Architects and Engineers, designed the two Modern dormitories, Terry Hall #2, completed first, and Lander Hall #2, built on a site to the west of Terry. A photographic announcement of the two new UW dorms appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on 01/04/1951. Its caption read: “Shown above, left, is the architect’s sketch of the University of Washington’s proposed $2,225,000 men’s dormitory. When completed the dormitory will house 600 men and eventually will replace the temporary wooden structures now being used by resident male students. Site of the new dormitory will be on the south side of the Campus Parkway, near 11th and 12rh Aves. Bids will be asked in June. University officials expect the building to be ready for use by autumn of 1952. Details of wing on right [Lander Hall #2] have not been announced.” (See “Proposed University Housing,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 01/04/1951, p. 5B.)

This dormitory, set to cost $2.8 million in 09/1952, would house 600 male students who being housing in temporary, wood-frame buildings around the campus. The cost of Terry Hall #2 escalated rapidly from an initial estimate of $2.25 million in 01/1951. (See "Proposed University Housing," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 01/04/1951, p. 6.)

Building Notes

Initial efforts to raise $1.5 million in private construction bonds failed in 09/1952, but the UW had a back-up offer from the US Housing and Home Finance Agency to provide a loan. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote in 09/17/1952: "A call for bids on a 1 1/2 million dollar revenue bond issue for the first unit of the men's dormitory at the University of Washington failed to attract offers from private financing organizations Tuesday. This clears the way for the acceptance of a 2.75 percent bid offered by the U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency, Nelson Wahlstrom, University comptroller, said. The federal government offered to buy the bonds if no bids were received from private sources at less than 2.85 per cent. No state tax money is involved in the transaction. The bond issue will be paid with revenue from income of the men's and women's dormitories over a period of 39 years. Annual payments, including interest, will be about $60,000. The new 600-man dormitory, now under construction on Campus Parkway, will cost a total of $2,800,000. The balance of the money was provided from University funds on hand, derived from income of various University housing operations. Two other 600-man units eventually will be added to the one now under construction." (See "U.W. Building Bid Call Fails," Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 09/17/1952, p. 9.)

The University of Washington, Seattle (UW), Men's Residence Hall received a Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1954. (See "AIA Seattle Honor Awards: projects cited 1950- " accessed 02/22/2014.)

In 2013, Terry Hall contained 846 rooms, all double or triple occupancy. The dorm's web site listed its amenities: "Eleven 01 Café, featuring three dining concepts; Convenient access to the Burke-Gilman Trail; Study rooms and Music practice rooms; Spacious lounge with a large fireplace; Access to the Fitness Center West in Elm Hall; Ethernet access in every room." (See "Terry Hall," accessed 10/03/2013.)

Terry Hall #1 was scheduled to be demolished in 2013, with Terry Hall #2 ready for occupancy on the same site in 01/2014. The architect, Mithun, priced the cost of renovation of Terry and Lander Halls versus the cost of demolition and rebuilding, finding that the renovation costs were too high. "In examining the old buildings, “we found tremendous deficiencies in energy and safety,” said Mithun partner Bill LaPatra. Redoing Lander to meet modern standards would have cost $275 a square foot and Terry, $225. The university’s budget for this phase of the project was $195 per square foot. Replacing Terry and Lander, along with adding a third building to help accommodate demand, penciled out at $185, according to a presentation Mithun put together." (See Teresa Meek, Puget Sound Business Journal,Accessed 10/03/2013.) Demolition of the 11-story building was in process on 03/18/2014. Terry Hall #1 had been leveled by 04/18/2014, with only debris needing to be removed from the site.

PCAD id: 17909