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Judging Pavilions

Several pavilion-type structures were built on campus during the period 1900 to 1925. One was for joint use in both crops and livestock judging and others specifically for teaching livestock selection and management. Typical construction was octagonal, round, or oval. All were constructed with large windows, some with skylights to provide ample natural lighting for appraising animals or crop products being studied. When the new judging pavilion was completed in 1925, the three existing pavilions were converted to other uses.

Judging Pavilion (Stock Pavilion, Theater Workshop, Shattuck Theater), 1900-1979


 Pavilion 1This was the first pavilion built on campus. It was designed by Liebbe, Nourse and Rassmussen of Des Moines and constructed by Main and McKee in 1900. Location was adjacent to the Horse Barn. Configuration was round and the building was of wood construction. The facility was used as a judging pavilion until about 1925 when the new livestock pavilion was completed. The pavilion was later used for the performing arts and was designated Shattuck Theater in 1960 to honor Fredrica Shattuck, founder of the Iowa State Players established in 1914. Use by the theater group was discontinued in 1973 when Fisher Theater, a part of The Iowa State Center, was completed. Shattuck Theater was razed in 1979.

 

 

Judging Pavilion No. 2 (Agronomy Farm Crops Laboratory), 1903-1972


The building was octagonal in shape, had a diameter of 60 feet and was surfaced with buff-colored brick. The two-story building was used by Animal Husbandry and Agronomy. This building was located adjacent to the Experiment Station Barn with an elevated walkway between the buildings. The pavilion was designed by Proudfoot and Bird of Des Moines and constructed by C. E. Atkinson in 1903. It was later designated the Agronomy Farm Crops Laboratory and used for this purpose until 1972 when it was razed to make room for Physical Plant Shops and Central Stores Building.

Judging Pavilion No. 3 (Carpenter Shop), 1911-1972


This pavilion, 64 feet in diameter, was designed by Proudfoot and Bird of Des Moines and built in 1911 by Thomas Sloss (Iowa State College) as a livestock judging facility. It was used for that purpose until the new Judging Pavilion was built in 1925. Design was similar to Judging Pavilion No. 2 in that the shape was octagonal and the building was two stories in height. Remodeling for use as the Physical Plant Carpenter Shop was done in 1925. This use continued until the building was razed in 1972.

Judging Pavilion, 1924-1925 to 1998


 Pavilion 2The building was completed in 1925. Proudfoot, Bird and Rawson of Des Moines did the design and Thomas Sloss (Iowa State College) supervised construction. The building was oval in shape and constructed of clay tile. The roof was enhanced by a large metal cupola. The walls were equivalent in height to two-story structures in order to accommodate tall windows around the entire building to maximize natural lighting. Remodeling was accomplished in 1931 to expand seating by building in fixed bleacher-type seating.

This seating was removed in 1972 and replaced by folding bleachers from the Armory when the Iowa State intercollegiate basketball program was relocated to Hilton Coliseum. The facility was used for teaching and demonstration of livestock management practices, judging team training, field days for 4-H and FFA students, breed conferences, extension programs, and a variety of livestock events such as the Little International Showmanship Contest. The building was razed in 1997 to make room for the addition to Kildee Hall dedicated in 1998.