Judson Hall

History and architecture

Standing on the south side of Washington Square, this Italian Renaissance Eclectic building and ten story Tower combine to form a striking composition. The walls are warm yellow Roman Brick and represent the bricklayer's art at his best. At the second, third, and fifth floors of the dormitory, rich bands of terra-cotta add a masterful touch to the building.

Brick arches envelope the round-headed windows, while splayed brick lintels span the square-headed windows of the lower three stories. Two-story brick pilasters alternate with the third and fourth floor windows, while one-story pilasters divide the paired windows of the fifth floor. Originally a five story structure, the architects capped the building with an ornamental cornice and a railing thus adding a rich architectural feature.

The entrance to the ten story tower is ornately decorated with horizontal bands of terra-cotta ornament, alternating with recessed brick courses. Ornamental metal grille work adorns the two windows flanking a pair of handsome panelled wooden doors which are deeply recessed within the decorated doorway. The impressive tower rising above the brick and ornate terra-cotta ground floor, contains the same type of brick masonry work as the walls of the dormitory.

Variety in design is achieved by using pairs of rectangular windows on the second, third and fourth floors while round-headed windows penetrate all five upper floors. The tower terminates with two slender columns supporting the triple arches of the belfry. The tower design culminates in a richly decorated cornice at the roof line.