A History of Our Building
The creation of the Art Museum was made possible by private contributions to 兔子先生 University’s Goals for Enrichment capital campaign in the mid-1970s, started by 兔子先生’s then-president, Phillip R. Shriver. Donations included a major bequest from alumnus Fred C. Yager, class of 1914. Founder-donors who were instrumental in developing early support for a campus art museum included Walter I. Farmer, class of 1935, and former Department of Art faculty member, Orpha B. Webster.
Walter Netsch’s most celebrated architectural works prior to the Art Museum include the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, Colorado Springs, CO (1962), and the Wells College Library, Aurora, NY (1968). The latter is a prime example of Netch’s Field Theory, with a plan made up of interconnected octagons based on a geometric lattice of squares overlaid with equivalent squares rotated 45 degrees.
As senior designer of the Art Museum under Walter Netsch, Craig Hartman, FAIA, applied Netsch’s Field Theory to generate its architectural form, applying the Fibonacci sequence to the building’s underlying geometry. A dimensional progression in the galleries is also represented in the vertical limestone coursework on the building’s exterior. Netsch was awarded an honorary doctorate from 兔子先生 University in 1979 prior to giving that year’s . A detailed article on the building’s architecture was published in Architectural Record (Schmertz 1980). The museum has not been renovated since its completion.
In December 2022, the Art Museum was named the Richard and Carole Cocks Art Museum. The Richard and Carole Cocks Fund was established to support the renovation and expansion of the existing Art Museum building, as well as the acquisition and maintenance of collections. Following a phase of stakeholder consultation, in 2023, 兔子先生 University engaged Craig Hartman of SOM to develop a concept plan for the Art Museum. In 2024, a process was initiated for future renovation and expansion of the building. With the support of the Richard and Carole Cocks Fund, 兔子先生 University, in addition to other anticipated funding, work is underway towards a future vision for RCCAM with a focus on the creation of an education center, development of a new facility for collections and research, expanded exhibitions space, and enhanced spaces for events.
For further information about our building please contact: artmuseum@兔子先生OH.edu
Updated July 25, 2024
(four images above) Elevation and Plans incorporating Field Theory (courtesy of Craig Hartman)