Historical Buildings- Family Life

History

As the college entered into the thirties, one of the most pressing needs of the institution was proper housing for the Home Economics department, which was a fundamental field of the institution since the college began. The construction of the building was part of the college building program at the time. As such, the architectural plans for the building, drawn by Hodgson and McClenahan of Ogden, were completed for some time prior to its construction.

On October 18, 1933 the federal Public Works Administrator announced allotments in excess of ten million dollars for non-federal projects. As part of the allotment given to the state of Utah, was the sum of $325,000 to build the home economics and union building.

The building was to house the college’s school of Home Economics, art department, a cafeteria, part of the physiology and public health departments, and all student union activities. This project was also important because of the serious fire hazards that were present with the location of the cafeteria and art department in Old Main at the time.

It was one of over 230 public works buildings constructed in Utah under New Deal programs during the Depression years of the 30’s and 40’s. Of these buildings only around 130 are well preserved.

The building was constructed east of the engineering building (Ray B. West,) balancing out the buildings on the Quad. A new entrance to the college was also built near the site of the building shortly prior to construction. A terrace opened from the second floor and overlooked the southern part of Cache Valley.

The Family Life Building is one of the best examples in Utah of the Art Deco style. It is three stories high and features bricks in decorative patterns along with custom cut stones as capstones and trim. 

Interiors and furnishings in the building were of many different styles. Among the styles incorporated were early American, English, and Chippendale. The design of the lounges was inspired by the American wing of the Metropolitan Art Museum. 

It quickly became the social center of the college with the location of the cafeteria, recreation rooms and student activities. It remained such until the construction of the student center building in 1953. 

In 1960, a $70,000 remodeling job of converting the cafeteria/ dining area into a research laboratory, nursery, and classrooms was completed. 

It is listed on the National History Register.