Kennesaw State University Kennesaw Campus Walking Tour
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Walking tour of the KSU Kennesaw campus
1. Kennesaw State University - Kennesaw Campus
Established by the Georgia Board of Regents in 1963 and opened as Kennesaw Junior College in 1966, Kennesaw State University (KSU) is today the third largest unit of the University System of Georgia (USG). Kennesaw Junior College expanded to a four-year institution in 1978. Since its creation, the institution has had four names--Kennesaw Junior College (1966-1977), Kennesaw College (1978-1987), Kennesaw State College (1988-1996), and Kennesaw State University (1996-present). This former junior college is today a comprehensive university with two suburban campuses (in Kennesaw and Marietta) with nearly 43,000 students enrolled in over 180 undergraduate, master's, doctoral degree, and certificate programs. The college owes its creation to the mid-twentieth-century post-war suburban population boom, part of which was driven by the development of the Bell Bomber Plant in Marietta, Georgia.
2. Siegel Student Recreation Center, Kennesaw State University
Constructed in 1967 as a Physical Education building for Kennesaw Junior College, the 55,000 sq. ft. building was one of the original eight buildings on the campus. The Physical Education building housed various sporting events, classes, and recreation opportunities for students, until the building was scheduled for renovation in 2013 to update its look for a new era. The building began renovations in 2013 and was renamed for Betty L. Siegel due to her contributions to Kennesaw State University during her twenty-five years as president. Renovation on the building would not be completed until September 2015, when it was then open for student enjoyment and recreation on campus.
3. Convocation Center, Kennesaw State University
Located at 590 Cobb Avenue Kennesaw, GA 30144 the Kennesaw State Univerity Convocation Center first broke ground in January 2003. The architecture was done by Heery International and the total construction price was $19.18 million (around $31.46 million in 2023). The Convocation Center is Kennesaw State’s athletic department centerpiece on the main Kennesaw campus on the southeast corner of the Campus Green. Not only does it house the athletic department’s administrative offices, classrooms, player’s locker room, and team lounge but, it also holds the 4,600-seat arena. Construction finished and the building was opened in the first week of April of 2005 with a series of events to celebrate.
4. Kennesaw Hall, Kennesaw State University
This educational and administrative building began construction in 1998 and was completed the following year. One of the centerpieces of Kennesaw State's redevelopment effort at the end of the twentieth century, Kennesaw Hall boasts a modern, five-story frame that can be easily seen from the nearby Barrett Parkway. Kennesaw Hall is home to the Bursar's Office, the Office of Research, Faculty Affairs, the Registrar's Office, multiple classrooms, and administrative offices. The Office of the President is located on the top floor of Kennesaw Hall. Kennesaw Hall is located across from the Carmichael Student Center and overlooks the main student quad.
5. Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Education Building, Kennesaw State University
Located on the Kennesaw State Univesity Campus, the Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Education building serve as Kennesaw State’s College of Education. The Chantal and Tommy Bagwell Education building holds the vast majority of the classrooms where Education majors will find their classes and learn important skills related to pedagogy. This building also hosts the Dean's Office and other administration staff related to the Bagwell College of Education. Today the Bagwell College of Education offers forty-two different degrees from bachelor to doctorate and nineteen endorsements, certification only, or certificate programs. The Chantal and Tommy Education Building offers an additional twelve general classrooms, two computer labs, eight model classrooms, two large student study areas, four student study rooms, and three academic departments.
6. Burruss Building, Kennesaw State University
The Burruss Building is located at 560 Parliament Garden Way NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144. It is a hub for all students of the Cole's College of Business. Located inside the building on the first floor is a McAlister's deli in the atrium with tables and chairs where students frequently socialize. The fourth floor contains computer labs, roleplaying rooms, and other student resources. All other floors contain classrooms and professors offices.
7. Music Building, Kennesaw State University
Constructed in 1966, this 4,200-square-foot building housed the maintenance staff for the college. The building, which was completed on January 18, 1967, was one of the original eight buildings on the Kennesaw Junior College campus and included a warehouse and workshop. The building was known as the maintenance building until the late 1970s when the construction of a new plant operations/maintenace facility on the north edge of campus enabled the relocation of maintenance staff and equipment. Beginning in 1978-79 school year, the music program began using the building. A major renovation in 1980 provided a permanent home base for the music program. The building today includes faculty offices, student practice rooms, and a recital hall.
8. Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw State University
Located on the Kennesaw State University Campus, the Zuckerman Museum of Art was founded in 1984. It houses 6,000 paintings, sculptures, works on paper, as well as 5,000 prints from the Southern Graphics Council International, one of the most important print organizations in the country. The museum focuses on American art from the 18th to 20th centuries. Collection highlights include works by Chagall, Renoir and Rockwell, and 125 works by Ruth Zuckerman (bronze and stone sculptures; photographs, paintings, plaster maquettes, her personal archives are housed in the museum as well). African sculptures and contemporary art are also featured at the museum.
9. Kennesaw State University - Wilson Building
The Wilson Building, formerly the Education and Performing Arts Building, opened in 1989 under Kennesaw State College. It was built by Chegwidden/Dorsey/Holmes (CDH Partners). The original design and use are similar to how the building is utilized today. It holds the Stillwell Theatre and the Fine Arts Gallery, as well as numerous classrooms, music studios, a theatre technology classroom, and the offices for the Deans of the College of the Arts, the Department of Music, and the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies. Its construction was part of an effort to expand Kennesaw State after the transformation to a senior university from a junior college in 1976. The Performing Arts Building was renamed the Wilson Building on October 5th, 1994, after Joe Mack Wilson, an advocate for the creation of Kennesaw State’s conversion into a four-year college. The Fine Arts Gallery and the Stillwell Theatre are both housed inside the Wilson building. As a center for student and contemporary exhibitions, the Fine Arts Gallery acts as a satellite gallery for the Bernard A. Zuckerman Museum of Art on campus. This space is used for exhibiting capstone projects, a requirement for seniors completing their Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees to showcase artwork of various disciplines. The Howard Logan Stillwell Theatre, as part of the Department of Theatre and Dance Studies, is a contemporary proscenium theatre that holds 320 seats for large performances. Some of these past shows include Ragtime, Heathers: The Musical, Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, Falsettos, and Cabaret.
10. Visual Arts Building, Kennesaw State University
Constructed on October 25, 1999, this building was seen as a connection with the community. As the Visual Arts Building went through a multitude of construction and authorization to become what it is today it is legendary as it was seen as the forgotten gem of Kennesaw at one point. Now in the year of 2023 The Visual Art Building of the Kennesaw campus has 32,000 square feet of state-of-the-art studio and classroom spaces. The building's central atrium hallways are illuminated with natural light and student artwork is often displayed throughout the building. These studios support our Applied Arts programs: Graphic Communications, Digital Animation, Illustration, and Sequential Art.
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11. English Building, Kennesaw State University
The English Building at Kennesaw State University is a relatively new addition to the school's growing body compared to the school's original eight buildings. The need for a building dedicated to English became apparent as enrollment numbers increased and the number of English students followed closely behind. The creation of the English Building allowed for an expansion in the English Department, allowing for several new classes pertaining to English, such as screenwriting and creative writing classes. The building (the new edition as well as the older half) is made of brick. It is also covered in windows, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The main entrance to the building takes you to the second floor out of the three floors. Just outside the front entrance, next to the English building sign, is the new outside seating area. It offers plaza-style seating as well as tables that offer charging stations for phones and computers.
12. Legacy Gazebo, Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw State University’s Legacy Gazebo serves as an outdoor amphitheater and gathering place for campus life. Plans for the structure began in early 1995 under Doctor Betty Siegel’s latter years as University President to honor then-Kennesaw State College’s retired and deceased faculty. The planned gazebo and amphitheater were to be erected near the Social Sciences Building and old campus green. Standing 28-feet at its tallest point, the gazebo is made of pre-engineered steel with a two-tiered metal roof covered with wood shingles and is crowned with a center copula. Dedicated and erected in 1997 in its chosen location, the Legacy Gazebo hosts various student events, ceremonies, and continues to be a staple on the campus.
13. Social Science Building, Kennesaw State University
Since the establishment and opening of Kennesaw State University, buildings have changed names and uses multiple times due to student growth and facility expansion. With the building’s opening in 2007, it became the tallest building on the campus for a period of time and was eventually dwarfed. Since its opening, the building has served hundreds of students and houses the recently named Norman J. Radow College of the Humanities and Social Sciences.
14. Willingham Hall, Kennesaw State University
Construction on Willingham Hall began in 1963 but was not used until 1967 when the school admitted students. Its classification as one of the “original eight” is in reference to it being a part of the original campus. Originally used to house the humanities and social sciences, its current occupants are the advising center, Radow and Journey Honor college, and the MA in Integrated Global Communications program. It is located between the Social Sciences building and University Hall, surrounding the “quad” of the 1967 original campus.
15. University Hall, Kennesaw State University
University Hall is a two story building with over 21,000 square feet. It is located on the west side of the Kennesaw State University campus, being a part of the old campus. University Hall was built in 1967 as the original Social Sciences Building, and was one of the original eight buildings of Kennesaw Junior College. The construction of the building was completed on February 1, 1967, nearly a month after the college began its first quarter on January 9, 1967. University Hall now focuses on providing resources for first-year and transfer students. University Hall also houses Diversity & Inclusion, Advertising Services, Strategic Planning, Assessment, and Analysis, the SMART Center, and the ESL Center.
16. W. Wyman Pilcher Public Service Building, Kennesaw State University
Constructed between 1966 and 1967, this building was used as the library of the college. The building, which was completed on March 16, 1967, was part of the original eight buildings of the campus plans of the Kennesaw Junior College. The building was known as the library until 1978 when the Horace W. Sturgis Library was opened, and the building became known as the old library. However, after its renovation in 1984, which intended to make the building a media center by adding darkrooms and graphic artist offices. The building was renamed after W. Wyman Pilcher in 1987. The building today is used as a public service building and includes the public information office.
17. Horace W. Sturgis Library, Kennesaw State University
Built in 1981 as part of Kennesaw College, this library was originally named the Kennesaw Library. It was constructed in order to meet the demands of the growing college. Covering over 100,000 square feet, this new library could hold over 300,000 volumes and accommodate nearly 1,000 students, compared to the original library which held 85,000 volumes, was only 20,000 square feet, and could accommodate roughly 400 students. Upon its completion, the Kennesaw Library replaced the significantly smaller library, now the Pilcher Public Service Building, that was built in 1967 as part of the original eight buildings that made up the Kennesaw Junior College campus. In 1990, the new Kennesaw Library was renamed the Horace W. Sturgis Library in honor of the College's first president.
18. James V Carmichael Student Center, Kennesaw State University
The student center is always the center of activity for a university, and this is true for Kennesaw State University. It has housed many restaurants, lounging areas, and rooms for events. The architecture is simple with a few additions to the original building. Opened in 1975, the Kennesaw State student center is named for Cobb County native James V. Carmichael who was instrumental in the creation of this student center. Although he died before the completion of this student center's first iteration, his legacy can live on through it.
