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Governor Pat Morris Neff (1871-1952) participated in the cornerstone-laying ceremony for the Texas Technological College administration building on November 11, 1924, during a celebration attended by a vast crowd. The new school was chartered through Senate Bill No. 103, signed into law on February 10, 1923. William Ward Watkin of Rice University was selected to design the new campus. The façade of the administration building was modeled on the 1553 redesign of the Universidad de Alcalá de Henares in Spain by Spanish architect Rodrigo Gil de Ontañón. The three-story masonry building follows a u-shaped plan with low pitched hipped roof and two end towers. The rich ornamentation, indicative of the early Spanish renaissance style usually referred to as plateresque, can be seen throughout and set the architectural style for the new college.
The school’s opening event and student convocation took place September 30 and October 1, 1925, on the south lawn and cloistered walkway of the administration building. For many years, the building housed all administrative offices, classrooms and the library as well as hosting annual commencements, recognition ceremonies, student convocations and musical performances from Texas Tech students and visiting musical acts. In the early 1950s, east and west wings were added. Beginning in 1959, the holiday season has been celebrated with the annual carol of lights, featuring extensive holiday light displays and carillon music from the administration building’s west tower. The carillon bells were donated by the senior class of 1941 with subsequent replacements in 1954 and 1976. The east tower features victory bells, a gift of the senior class of 1936. Another major gift of note is the Double T bench, donated by the 1931 senior class. The administration building of Texas Tech University and its ongoing traditions remain a beloved part of the Texas Tech campus and the Red Raider spirit. (2022) |
