Christ Chapel was built in 1866 as St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and became the first Protestant church in Idaho, Montana, and Utah. Over time, it was relocated to the North End and then was moved to its current location on Boise State University campus in 1964. In 1973, Christ Chapel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the church is still owned and operated by the Christ Chapel Historical Society where it is used for nondenominational weddings and ceremonial events.
Boise State University is home to the NCAA division 1 Boise State Broncos. When the Broncos have home games they play at the Albertsons Stadium (formerly known as the Bronco Stadium) located at BSU. In addition to its rich history, the Albertsons Stadium is unique in many ways. It boasts the only artificial ‘’blue turf’’ in the league, the Noble Gallery that holds BSU’s sports history and accomplishments, and the aesthetically pleasing Stuekle Sky Center.
Located in the heart of Boise State University’s campus lies a building considered to be one of the most prestigious entertainment arenas in the West; Taco Bell Arena (formally known as The Pavilion). Constructed in 1982 by the architectural firm CSHQA to the cost of $17.5 million, Taco Bell Arena has proven to be a powerhouse for all college arenas across the nation for showcasing collegiate sports such as basketball, gymnastics, and wrestling. The arena has also became a staple for commercial entertainment by hosting concerts by well-known recording artists such as Maroon 5, Katy Perry, Imagine Dragons, Ariana Grande, and many more. Taco Bell Arena in of itself is a destination that not only brings in opportunities for the university but also the residents and travelers who come to visit Boise, Idaho.
The Bronco Gym was constructed in 1955 and open in the beginning of 1956. Constructed by Hummel, Hummel and Jones it was first named Gymnasium during the time Boise State University was Boise Junior College. It was soon renamed Human Performance Center in 1986 and became the Kinesiology Building in 2001. It is also referred to as Bronco Gym. It is located on the Eastern side of campus cornered on Bronco Ln road and the parking lot parallel to the Albertson’s Stadium. It’s exterior includes the traditional red brick walls and white terra cotta. It has served years of sporting events and other events held by the community.
In 1942 the Student Union Building was in the building now known as the Communication Building. The building that replaced the old one was completed in 1967. The Student Union Building was built in the international style and by the R. W. Luekenga Construction Company. It has had several remodels and expansions done to it, due the increase of students and the need for more space. The first expansion was in 1972, they added on to make the building larger. The most recent remodel was done in 2009. The SUB is open for the public and is a busy building where students and visitors come and go throughout the day.
The Communications Building, originally called The Student Union Building (also The Corral) was opened March, 1942. The original intended purpose was to be a place for students to grab a drink and food, socialize, and have Friday night dances. In 1967 the Student Union Building was erected Southeast of what is now the Communications Building, which left the building open for classrooms and moved all social gatherings and activities to the new Student Union Building.
Built in 1951, Morrison and Driscoll Halls were the first on-campus living residences at Boise State. While Boise Junior College at the time, Driscoll housed men while Morrison housed women. It wasn’t until the 1972-73 school year when Driscoll and Morrison Halls became Boise State’s first co-ed residence halls. Fast forward to modern day, Driscoll and Morrison now serve as the living quarters of Boise State University’s Honors College students.
The Hemingway Center building is located NE of Liberal Arts building. The actual address is: 1819 Campus Lane. The building contains Boise State's Hemingway Western Studies Center, labs for Boise State's Anthropology department, offices, and an extension of Boise State's VAC (Visual Arts Center) which holds frequent temporary exhibitions. Frank K. Hummel designed this building originally called, interchangeably, the "Assembly Hall" or "Assembly Building". It has also been referred to as the "Auditorium".
The Albertsons Library is located on the Boise State University campus, north of the Administration Building. The building architects were Hummel –Hummel-Jones and Shawver, a local architecture firm. Construction of the building began in 1962 after district voters approved an $800,000 bond. In 1964, then Boise Junior College, opened the doors to a new, some 44,000 square foot, modernist library building. Since then, the building has undergone two additions between 1970 and 1995 and now also houses the College of Innovation and Design and the Maker Lab.
At the center of the Boise State campus stands the historic Administration building. It was constructed in 1940 after Boise Junior College was created in the 1930s. This building is a rare historic moment because it was one of a few buildings that were started before WW2 and were still completed even though the war was going on. The building was designed with academia in mind. With the red brick and subtle ornaments on the outside this building started the trend for the rest of the buildings (excluding the ILC) on campus. This was the hub for all things centered around Boise Junior College. The library and student union were both located inside the Administration building before getting their own respective building to themselves.
Campus School is currently home of Boise State’s Art Department, but originally it was an elementary school used to help train teachers. It was built in 1953 and changed to Boise State's Art Department in 1990. It is located right on the corner University Drive and Brady St. Campus is also know as Liberal Art Building West, Campus Building and Public Affairs and Arts West Building (PAAW).
The Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts is located on the campus of Boise State University. Located right in downtown Boise, the Morrison Center provides a state of the art performing arts venue for not only the university, but the public as well. Built in 1981, and completed in 1984, The Morrison Center brings to Boise a wide variety of upstanding entertainment from all over the country to be enjoyed by all.
The John B. Barnes Towers Hall on the campus of Boise State University holds 300 student and one of Boise State's oldest dormitory. It’s located near Capitol Blvd, and along the Boise Green Belt. Towers Hall holds freshmen students, it a coed dormitory and it has 7 floors, holding 50 students on each. Boise State University has a total of 9 dormitories for Freshmen in college and 5 upperclassmen housing buildings.
The Micron Business and Economics Building on Boise State's Campus is home to the College of Business and Economics and is often referred to as the face of the University, since its location along Capital Boulevard often makes it the first building seen by visitors arriving on campus. Constructed in 2012, this building features state-of-the-art classrooms and lecture halls accommodating up to 250 students. This building replaced the University Inn, a hotel which was purchased by Boise State in 2006, and torn down in 2010. The construction of the Micron Business and Economics Building was largely made possible thanks to a $12.5 million contribution by Micron, covering almost half of the building's $28.8 million dollar construction cost, and earning them the right to have the building named after them.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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Historic walking tour of BSU campus architecture created as a final project by the Department of Art's History of Modern Architecture course in the Spring of 2017 with adjunct faculty member Amy Pence-Brown. Come explore the unique history of our campus from Boise's beginnings in the 1860s to some of the newest construction. Cool historic photos, maps, video tours and more included!
