Cowan Dining Hall

Date Built: 1962

Named For: J. Rice Cowan

Architect: Murphey and Mackey

Cost: $505,000

Current Use: dining hall

The construction of Cowan, the Fraternity Quadrangle, the new women's residences, and Sutcliffe Hall closed the first phase of Centre's ten-year sesquicentennial development program. Begun in 1959, the program lasted until the college's 150th anniversary in 1969. Cowan replaced the former, smaller dining hall located in McReynolds. An increased dining capacity (Cowan was built to handle 650 students) was needed to accommodate the women students being moved from the old Women's Department campus to the Centre campus.

Cowan was named for Dr. J. Rice Cowan of Danville who died August 18, 1953. He had served as a member of Centre's board of trustees for 40 years, including 18 years as board chair.

When Cowan first opened in 1962 the college enforced a "coat and tie" standard of dress for evening meals. This requirement would not be rescinded until Spring term 1968.