Seaton-Regnier Hall
1875-Present
Quick Facts:
Built: 1875
Original Intent: Woodworking Shops
Current Use: College of Architecture, Planning and Design
Names and Uses: (* - Unknown Years)
Woodworking Shops*
The Shops*
Industrial Hall*
Mechanics Hall/Building*
Engineering Shops*
Mechanical Engineering Shops*
Seaton Hall & Court (1955/1977-2017)
Regnier Hall (2017-Present)
Housed:
Woodworking (1875-?)
Carpentry (1875-?)
Domestic Manual Arts (1876-1897)
Blacksmith (1876-?)
Iron Works (1891-?)
Mechanics/Machine Shops (1891-?)
Steam and Gas Engineering 1897-?)
Drafting/Blueprinting (1904-?)
Department of Mechanical Engineering (1910-?)
Department of Architecture (1910 -?)
Department of Civil Engineering (1910 - ?)
Engineering Library (1910-?)
Natural History (1883-1896)
Circa mid-1880s. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
In its original location since 1863, KSACwas in need of a space for mechanics arts (blacksmithing and carpentry). KSAC had received numerous applications from young men that had desired an education on such matters. By 1872, a 20 x 40 foot building was erected by the students of this program, under the direction of a Mr. Ambrose Todd, who was a master mechanic. It offered just enough space for a handful of students to receive their education in blacksmithing and carpentry.
In 1875, KSAC had moved to its new locations a few blocks southeast, on the land of what was supposed to be the New College Farm. With the college moving from its original building to its new headquarters, New College Barn in 1875 (see Farm Machinery Hall), it was decided that this new department should follow. In 1874, it was proposed to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) that $25,000 (~$1 Million) be appropriated to build five new workshops on the new campus. Sadly, this amount proved to be too steep, with the SSPI only granting $7,500.
1871-1875
With the $7,500 (~$200,000 today), construction began on the Woodworking Shops in 1875. The size of the structure was to be 38 x 102 feet, with two stories, and built by Jacob Winnie and S. Rains. Upon the main exterior structure being completed, the interior was still unfinished, with the first floor having flooring and a ceiling installed, the second floor had only been plastered. The Carpentry department had been able to move in right away, but the Blacksmith Department had to wait a bit longer until 1876.
With being moved from its original location, the new Blacksmithing department location offered a bit more space with 2 forges and a small cistern added. This location sat a short distance to the north of the wood shop. It wasn’t until mid-1876 that this blacksmith shop had a true concrete foundation. This building was to hold all of the Manual Arts, which included mechanical (woodworking and smithing) and domestic (sewing, cooking, household management) manual arts.
To the west of the building stood Horse and Buggy stables, mostly for Faculty at the time, to provide shelter during inclement weather. These buildings were built by the students within the college at the time.
1875-1891
View of Woodworking Shop - 1884. Looking north. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of interior Woodworking Shop - about 1889. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of interior Woodworking Shop - about 1889. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of interior Woodworking Shop - 1892. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of interior Woodworking Shop - 1892. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
By 1890, the blacksmithing and iron works had grown in popularity with students, and there became a need to expand the current facilities. Construction of this new facility began in 1891, with plans of the building being 83.75 x 42.17ft, adding 300 iron perches. This facility would sit just west of the woodworking shop, moving the horse and buggy shop further south. This construction was finished in late-winter 1891.
From 1891-1904, several small additions were added to and around the building, including storage, brass foundry, engine rooms, heating boilers, and shed for the storage of coal and wood. Enough with all of these additions, all the spaces were quickly filled, creating a cramped environment for students. It wasn’t until 1905 that a larger addition was added to the north portion of the woodworking shops.
This addition was planned to create a north cross wing that allowed for more room for wood working on the first floor while providing more class space for drafting and blueprinting, and office space for the Dean of Engineering, on the second floor. By the late-1890s, the departments had consolidate to create the new College of Mechanical Arts, one of the four original colleges of K.S.A.C.
1891-1905
View of Woodworking Shop (right) and Iron Foundry (left) circa Winter 1895/6. Looking west. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of building in June 1905 (north-up). Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. Courtesy of Library of Congress
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Key. Courtesy of Library of Congress
These additions proved to be beneficial to the College and all the corresponding departments, but yet even with these additions, space became cramped. More additions were planned and designed by the students and faculty of the college.
In 1908, it was passed to create the designs for an expansion of the blacksmith shops and two additions to the woodworking shop. The original location of the addition planned to be added solely to the north part of the 1905 addition. This would have destroyed the water tower, but luckily plans were changed to build a smaller addition on the north wing, expand the 1891 addition, and construct a new south cross wing with a with a wing extending further south. This would create space for 35 forges, each with a mechanical draft and a large fan blower that connected to each of the stations, while allowing for more classroom space as well. This addition allowed for space of the new Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, and Civil Engineering departments. Mechanical Engineering would take up the majority of the first floor, while Architecture would take up the southwest corner and Civil Engineering would take up the southeast corner of the second floor. Finally, more office space for the Dean of Engineering and space for the creation of the Engineering Library at the south end of south wing addition.
Much of the products that were created within these departments were actually used around the entire university. For the carpentry shops, much of their products were used in new buildings in the form of desks, chairs, and interior designs. The blacksmith shop’s products would do the same, for example, by 1940, all of the name plates for buildings, classrooms, laboratories, and offices across the university was cast in the Foundry by students.
1905-1909
View of Mechanical Engineering Hall circa 1909. Looking north. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of Mechanical Engineering circa 1910. Looking northwest. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of Mechanical Engineering Hall (left), University water tower (center), and 1890 addition (right) circa 1910. Looking northwest. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of building in January 1912 (north-up). Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. Courtesy of Library of Congress
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Key. Courtesy of Library of Congress
With all of these additions, much of the College of Mechanical Arts were housed under one roof, though some departments were scattered throughout the campus, with some being under the College of Agriculture. In 1919, there plans for yet another addition in order to have all of the College of Mechanical Arts under one roof. This addition would be added onto the west side of the Mechanical Engineering Building, with two conjoining wings.
By the end of 1919, plans were agreed upon to start construction. This new dual wing addition would allow for all departments within the Mechanical Arts College, excluding Farm Engineering which would still be housed in Farm Machinery Hall.
Construction soon began on this addition in late 1919, starting the process of creating what would become the largest educational plants to house one college, in the U.S. This addition was finished in late 1920, creating mostly new classroom space for prerequisite classes.
1909-1934
View of 1920 additions (left) and Mechanical Engineering Hall (right) circa 1920. Looking north. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
View of building in January 1930 (north-up). Sanborn Fire Insurance Map. Courtesy of Library of Congress
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Key. Courtesy of Library of Congress
Additions of Seaton-Regnier Hall - 1863-1932. Courtesy of Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
In 1955, the 1909/1920 additions were named in honor of Emeritus Dean of Engineering and Architecture, Mr. Roy A. Seaton. The engineering and architecture programs here at K-State grew exceptionally under his leadership and became the world renowned programs they are today.
In 1977, the oldest portions of the building was, also, named in honor of him, as Seaton Court. This portion of the building encased a small court yard that was later enclosed with more class space in the 2017 expansion.
Seaton became an alumnus at KSAC in 1904, and immediately becoming a professor in Mathematics (1904-1906). After serving this position, he went on to serve many more at KSAC:
Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Machine Design, and Hydraulics (1906-1923)
Director of Engineering Experiment Station (1920-1949)
Dean of the Division of Engineering (1920-1938)
Dean of the Division of Engineering and Architecture (1938-1949)
Seaton would become the longest serving Dean of the College of Engineering.
Namesakes
Dean Roy A. Seaton. 1929 Royal Yearbook.
In 2017, a $4 Million lead gift was donated to the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, to start a new $75 Million addition to the building. This addition was a cross wing that razed the 1890 addition, which was in terrible condition, and renovated the 1875, 1905, and 1908 additions.
This generous donation was made by the Regnier Family Foundation, gaining namesake of what was Seaton Court, where the remaining portion of the building remained Seaton Hall.
Today, the Regnier Family Foundation is overseen by Robert “Bob” Regnier, with his siblings, Cathy and Victor Jr. Regnier. The three siblings started this foundation in honor of their late mother and father, Victor “Vic” Regnier Sr. and Helen Regnier. The foundation works to honor their legacy by providing charitable donations to organizations that share similar values with Vic and Helen:
Education
Entrepreneurship
Innovation
Science
Without this generous donation, K-State would not have one of the best facilities for Architecture, Planning and Design in the nation.
(L-R) Victor Jr., Cathy, and Robert “Bob” Regnier.
The 1909/20 addition still holds the name Seaton Hall, with a 1959 west wing expansion, but houses numerous different departments. Seaton West / Robert V. Lee Wing:
G.E. Johnson Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science
Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
College of Engineering Computing Services
Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Central Seaton:
Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences
Institute for Environmental Research
Seaton East:
Department of Architecture
Department of Interior Architecture and Industrial Design
Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional and Community Planning
Current
Central Seaton. Looking northeast.
Regnier Hall. Looking north.
Regnier Hall (previously named Seaton Court) still has the main structures of the 1875 portion and 1905 and 1908 cross-wings but the 2017 structure razed the 1890 and 1908 wings. It also disputed amongst K-Stater’s where Regnier ends and Seaton begins, though the entire building is commonly known as Seaton-Reginer.
The main structure of Reginer Hall is home to the following:
College of Architecture, Planning and Design (Dean’s Office)
College of APD Student Academic Services
Regnier Hall (central portion, 1875) currently stands as the oldest standing structure within the heart of campus.
Overall layout of Seaton/Regnier Hall, showing what this research deems each wing is.
Additionally, complete layout and room numbers have been removed for the safety of students, staff and faculty. If you would like to see complete layout and room numbers, you must have a K-State EID to access this information.
Section One: 1871-1875
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 1, referencing Tenth Annual Report, 1871-'72, 9, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 2, referencing Tenth Annual Report, 1871-'72, 16, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 8, referencing Twelfth Annual Report of State Superintendent of Public Instruction, 1874, 110, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
Section Two: 1875-1891
(Top Picture) "The Shops," Vertical Files, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
(Bottom Four Pictures) "The Shops," Vertical Files, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 8, referencing Thirteenth Annual Report, 1875, 2, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 14, referencing The Kansas Industrialist, May 15, 1875, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 15, referencing Fourteenth Annual Report, 1876, 3, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 17, referencing Fourteenth Annual Report, 1876, 39, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 18, referencing Board of Regents Minutes, A, April 7, 1876, 228, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Vertical Files, 1889, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 19, referencing The Kansas Industrialist, Column 2, August 12, 1876, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
Willard, Julius Terrass, History of the Kansas State College of Agriculture and Applied Science (Manhattan, KS: Kansas State College Press, 1940), 42.
Section Three: 1891-1905
(Top Picture) "Shops," Vertical Files Winter 1895/6, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
(Bottom Left Picture) Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, Sanborn Map Company, Jun, 1905, Map, https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn03025_004/
(Bottom Right Picture) “About This Collection: Sanborn Maps: Digital Collections: Library of Congress,” The Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/about-this-collection/.
"Shops," Willard Card Catalog, Card 14, referencing The Kansas Industrialist, May 2, 1891, 127, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Industrial Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 1, referencing The Kansas Industrialist, May 16, 1891, 135, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Industrial Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 5, referencing Faculty Records of Professor O.P. Hood, January 9, 1892, 535-536, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Industrial Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 8, referencing The Kansas Industrialist, October 1, 1904, 27, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
“New Prairie Press,” Site, https://newprairiepress.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1079&context=ksulibraries.
Section Four: 1905-1909
(Top Right Picture) “About This Collection: Sanborn Maps: Digital Collections: Library of Congress,” The Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/about-this-collection/.
(Top Left Picture) Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas. Sanborn Map Company, Jan, 1912, Map, https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn03025_005/.
(Bottom Three Pictures) " Mechanical Engineering Hall," Vertical Files, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Engineering Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 10, referencing The Kansas Board of Regents Minutes, C, January 3, 1908, 31, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Industrial Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 11, referencing The Alumnus, C, March, 1909, 177, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Engineering Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 12, referencing The Industrialist, August, 20 1910, 534, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Industrial Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 14, referencing The Industrialist, January 27, 1940, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
Section Five: 1909-1934
(Top picture) "Seaton Hall," Vertical Files, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
(Middle Left Picture) Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas, Sanborn Map Company, Mar, 1923, Map, https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn03025_006/.
(Middle Right Picture) Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Manhattan, Riley County, Kansas. Sanborn Map Company, Jan, 1930, Map, https://www.loc.gov/item/sanborn03025_007/.
(Middle-Bottom Picture) “About This Collection: Sanborn Maps: Digital Collections: Library of Congress,” The Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/about-this-collection/.
(Bottom-Bottom Picture) "Seaton Hall,” Vertical Files, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries
"Engineering Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 15, referencing The Industrialist, October 8, 1919, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
"Mechanics Hall," Willard Card Catalog, Card 16, referencing The Kansas Industrialist, October 13, 1926, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries
Section Six: Namesake
(Left Picture) “Royal Purple: Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming,” Internet Archive, May 1929, https://archive.org/details/royalpurple1929unse/page/22/mode/2up?q=Seaton.
(Right Picture) “Entrepreneur Hall of Fame,” University of Missouri - Kansas City, https://bloch.umkc.edu/ehof/kiosk/inductee_regnier.html.
“Seaton Society,” Carl R. Ice College of Engineering, https://engg.k-state.edu/alumni-partners/seaton-society/#:~:text=The%20Legacy,Past%20recipients.
Aoadmin, “Regnier Hall,” Kansas State University Foundation, May 9, 2022, https://ksufoundation.org/impact/donor-stories/regnier-hall/.
"Seaton Hall," Vertical Files, Richard L. D. and Marjorie J. Morse Department of Archives and Special Collections, Kansas State University Libraries.
Willard, History, 265.
Section Seven: Current
(Top photo) “K-State Campus Map: Seaton Hall,” Campus Maps. https://www.k-state.edu/maps/buildings/S/.
(Middle photo) “Regnier Hall,” Campus Maps, https://www.k-state.edu/maps/buildings/SRH/.
(Bottom Photo) “Floor Plans: Seaton-Regnier Hall,” Division of Facilities, ed., by Benjamin Karten https://www.k-state.edu/maps/buildings/.
“K-State Campus Map: Seaton Hall,” Campus Maps, https://www.k-state.edu/maps/buildings/S/.
“Regnier Hall,” Campus Maps, https://www.k-state.edu/maps/buildings/SRH/.