GSU Ramps Up
Kell Hall and the Rise of an Urban Campus

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About the Exhibit

A testament to the resourceful and inventive spirit of GSU’s early leaders, Kell Hall endured through more than seven decades of growth and innovation as Georgia State evolved from the University of Georgia’s “Atlanta Extension Center” to a world-class urban research university.

Placing Kell Hall in Georgia State University History

  • Legend:
    • GSU Blue: University History
    • Vibrant Blue: Building History
    • Red: Leadership History
    • Blue Steel: World Events

1913

Black and white photograph of an ivy-covered building in the Georgian style.

School of Commerce at Tech

First evening business classes offered by Georgia Tech in its brand new School of Commerce, located in the Lyman Chemistry Building 

Black and white photograph of a white man with dark hair wearing a shirt and tie

Dean Kell

Wayne Sailley Kell, an expert in metallurgy and geology, becomes the first dean of the School of Commerce (1913 – 1917) 

1914

Black and white photograph of a multi-story building on a city corner

School of Commerce Moves Downtown

Official founding of the Georgia School of Technology’s evening School of Commerce (1914 – 1933) at the Walton Building in downtown Atlanta 

1917

World War I

U.S. becomes involved in World War I (1914 – 1918)

Black and white portrait of a white man with light-colored hair

Dean Watters

John M. Watters becomes Dean of the Evening School of Commerce (1917 – 1925) 

Co-education

Evening School enrolls its first women

1925

Black and white photo of a seven-story tall building with rows of square windows and store-fronts on the bottom level

Bolling Jones Building

Ivy Street Garage constructed under the direction of Bolling Jones, president of the Atlanta Stove Works 

Black and white portrait of a bald white man

Dean Wenn

Frederick B. Wenn becomes Dean of the Evening School of Commerce (1925 – 1928) 

1928

Black and white photo of a white man with glasses wearing a coat and tie, pointing up at a building

Dean Sparks

George M. Sparks becomes Dean of the Georgia Tech Evening School of Commerce (1928 – 1957) 

1931

Front page of The Technique newspaper with the headline "Students Protest Regents Abolishment of Commerce"

Board of Regents

Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia created as part of a reorganization of Georgia state government 

1933

Front page of The Evening Signal Newspaper with headline "Largest Enrollment in the History of Evening School"

Independent Evening School

The Evening School of Commerce becomes the University System of Georgia’s Evening School, an independent entity in the University System of Georgia 

1935

Atlanta Extension Center

School is reorganized as University System of Georgia’s Atlanta Extension Center with separate evening and day divisions. 

1941

Black and white photograph of a series of tents set up on a field with men standing around a car

World War II

The U.S. enters World War II (1939 – 1945) 

1945

Black and white photo of a seven-story tall building with rows of square windows and store-fronts on the bottom level

Ivy Street Garage Purchased

Bolling Jones sells the Ivy Street Garage, and George Sparks arranges its purchase to be dedicated classroom space for the Atlanta Center. 

1946

Black and white photograph of a group of students standing in front of a door with a sign over it that reads "University System of GA Center Evening and Day Classes 24"

Classes Held at Ivy Street

First classes are held in the Ivy Street Garage, also known as the Bolling Jones Building 

1947

UGA Takes Over

The University System of Georgia transfers supervision of the Atlanta Center to the University of Georgia, making it the Atlanta Division of the University of Georgia 

1950

Black and white photograph of a small plane taking off; the original caption of the photo reads: Georgia National Guard Capt. Barney Casteel at the controls of the first F-84 Thunderjet assigned to the 128th Fighter Squadron. On Jan 21, 1952, while assigned to the 136th Bomber Wing, Casteel was killed conducting an armed reconnaissance mission north of Pyongyang, North Korea. He was the last Georgia Air National Guard pilot killed in Korea.

Korean War

U.S. becomes involved in Korean War (1950 – 1953) 

1955

Independence

Georgia State College of Business Administration becomes an independent unit of the University System of Georgia 

1957

Black and white portrait of a white man with silver hair and dark eyebrows wearing a coat and tie

President Langdale

Noah Langdale becomes president of the college (1957 – 1988)

1961

Georgia State College

Having focused on diversifying programming in the arts and sciences, the school becomes Georgia State College the same year the USG integrates its flagship University of Georgia as a result of the persistence of Hamilton E. Holmes and Charlayne Hunter 

1962

Atlanta Constitution article from June 21, 1962, with the headline "Negro Teacher, 37, Attends Classes at Georgia State

Integration

Georgia State College welcomes its first Black students to campus. 

1964

Black and white photograph of President Langdale standing with a man and two woman in front of a dedication plaque for Kell Science Hall

Kell Science Hall

Ivy Street Garage/Bolling Jones Building is dedicated as Kell Science Hall in honor of Dean Kell 

1965

Black and white photograph showing two white men in conversation wearing suits and ties. The original photo caption reads: U.S. senator Richard B. Russell Jr. (left) converses with U.S. president Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. Russell, an early supporter of and mentor to Johnson, criticized the Johnson administration's escalation of the war in Vietnam during the 1960s.

Vietnam War

U.S. deploys troops in the Vietnam War (1955 – 1975) 

1966

Color diagram captioned "Phasing Buildings" zoomed in on center of Georgia State campus with existing building shown in black, first phase construction indicated in orange, and second phase construction indicated in green

Campus Master Plan

The Georgia State College Comprehensive Campus Master Plan envisions a platform campus with plazas and pedestrian walkways connecting its various buildings, including new library and classroom facilities 

1969

Georgia State University

School becomes Georgia State University 

1972

Black and white photograph showing construction in progress of an elevated plaza

Plaza Construction

Raised plaza constructed adjacent to Kell Hall 

1979

Color photograph showing the interior of a science lab inside Kell Hall with original parking lines on the floor

Kell Hall Renovations

Major renovations commence to bring Kell Hall up to code for use as science labs 

1988

Black and white photograph of an elderly white man wearing a suit and tie meeting with a group of students

President Suttles

William Suttles serves as Acting President (1988-1989)

1989

Color photograph of a white man with silver hair beside two women. The man is wearing a black academic robe with red trim

President Palms

John Palms serves as GSU’s fourth president (1989-1991)

1991

Black and white photograph of a white man with white hair wearing an open jacket and tie pointing off to his right

President Day

Sherman Day serves as Acting President (1991-1992)

1992

Color portrait of a smiling white man wearing a suit and tie

President Patton

Carl Patton serves as GSU President (1992-2008)

Color photograph of a brick facade with a sign with the Georgia State logo that reads Research Science Center

Natural Science Center

Natural Science Center built,  enabling the transfer of most lab facilities out of Kell Hall

1996

Color photograph of a peach-colored brick apartment complex

Centennial Olympic Games

Atlanta hosts the Centennial Olympic Games, spurring development including the creation of what would become GSU’s first dormatories.

2001

Front page of the Atlanta Constitution from September 12, 2001 with the headline that reads "Outrage: Thousands dead, a nation staggered as terrorists strike New York, Washington"

9/11 Attacks

Terrorist attacks prompt U.S. to become involved in wars in Afghanistan (2001 – 2021) and Iraq (2003 – 2011) 

2007

Chart showing three recessions in comparison. A long blue downward line shows the trajectory of the Great Depression that started in June 1929; a short blue v-shaped curve indicates the recession in 2020 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; and a shallower but longer red v-curve shows the Great Recession that started in April 2008

Great Recession

Great Recession affects Atlanta making it cheaper for Georgia State to buy office buildings in the downtown area (2007-2009) 

2009

Color portrait of a white man with sandy hair wearing a blue suit and tie

President Becker

Mark Becker serves as GSU President (2009 – 2021)

2013

Georgia State 100 logo in blue with the years 1913 and 2013 at the bottom and the Georgia State symbol between them

GSU Centennial

Georgia State University celebrates its centennial and launches new Master Plan that includes provisions for the demolition of Kell Hall 

2014

Front cover of the Georgia State University Campus Historic Preservation plan showing photos of the campus over the years

Historic Preservation Plan

Georgia State Preservation Plan includes detailed information about the school’s architectural history and identifies Kell Hall a eligible for demolition 

2018

Front cover of the Historic Structure Report for Kell Hall & Plaza showing a black and white photograph of the Bolling Jones Building in the center

Kell Hall Structure Report

Historic Structure Report commissioned for Kell Hall in preparation for its demolition 

2019

Color photograph of the demolition of Kell Hall showing a building that has been partly demolished with floors open for view and debris scattered on the ground in front

Kell Hall Demolition

Demolition of Kell Hall begins

2021

Color portrait of a smiling Black man with a mustache wearing a blue suit and tie

President Blake

M. Brian Blake is named GSU’s 8th president

Color rendering of a new greenway space in front of the GSU library building

Greenway

Greenway where Kell Hall once stood is completed

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