Page 3 - Millikin Design Book PRINT

SHILLING HALL

University was also underway, with several “Elizabethan” style determined to be the “best “secured at a great bargain.” Unfortunately,
locations in Decatur being considered. An area solution of our problem.” Floor plans were construction delays associated with material
called Oakland Park, Millikin’s preference, with prepared and a “beautiful water color draft of procurement and labor disagreements
some additional acreage to the north and west, the first group of three buildings was submitted, postponed occupancy by a year to September
was chosen. receiving enthusiastic endorsement from all 1903.
parties.”
Patton & Miller, a long-established Chicago Recruiting students for the Class of 1907 was
architecture firm, was hired, prompting President The construction phase of the project brought accomplished through the press, pastors from
Taylor to confirm “the general outline of the a new set of challenges, with bids for the first the Presbyterian synods, personal connections,
college organization, leading to the building four buildings coming in “disappointingly high.” and the “four hundred traveling salesmen of
program.” According to the president, this was The Building Committee found a solution by Decatur.” Total enrollment for the first year was
done through more benchmarking: a “careful identifying the lower subcontractor bids and 712, far outpacing James Millikin’s hope that,
review of our possible clientage and the courses re-combining these into a single bid that could after its first five or six years, the University
offered by our immediate competitors.” The be accepted, apparently similar to the multiple would welcome about 500 students.
architectural character of the new institution prime construction delivery approach used
was also the subject of extensive discussion today. The brown and red mottled vitrified brick
between Dr. Taylor and the architects, with the used for the exterior walls, Taylor noted, was

With the design and construction of the Center for Theatre and
Dance, many of the same challenges and opportunities confronted

by Millikin’s founders will arise again. And it is likely that the
decisions related to program, site selection, architectural character,

construction delivery, cost and schedule will be better made if the
vision is clear and a collaborative spirit animates the process.

Page 2 Millikin University Center for Theatre and Dance