An 84-year-old UF Landmark Gets a Makeover
One of the most anticipated campus building projects in recent years has been the rehabilitation and expansion of Norman Hall, the historic home of the UF College of Education. Supported by $31.5 million in funding from the Florida Legislature and overseen by Walker Architects, the project was Norman Hall’s first major renovation in its 84-year history.
Completed in fall 2019, the 18-month-long interior rehab saw the stately brick structure undergo a top-to-bottom makeover, from new windows, plumbing and HVAC, to restoration of vintage paneling and ceiling tiles, to the creation of a new conference center and a cozy café space. Classrooms have been reconfigured for 21st-century technologies and teaching practices (hello, modular seating and hybrid learning!), and dedicated spaces enable research in early-childhood studies, advanced learning technologies and other areas.
“We have the perfect blend of retaining the historic character of the building with introducing the most recent innovations to prepare future educators and education researchers,” said Dean Glenn Good.
Above all, the “new” Norman Hall prioritizes the student experience, said Dean Good. With his blessing, the ground-floor dean’s office – the first thing visitors used to encounter entering the building — was relocated to the second floor and replaced with a large, light-filled commons area.
“Now there are places for students to sit and study and collaborate with their peers year-round,” he said. “We renovated these old wooden alcoves, and now you’ll see students sitting in them, with their feet up and their laptops. This is just as we envisioned it.”
Here are some before, during and after scenes from Norman Hall’s dramatic rehabilitation.
April 27, 2022