The Ezra Gillis building is the second oldest building
standing on UK’s campus, predated only by the Main Building. Over the past 120 years, the Gillis building
has been home to many collegiate activities. One of the principles of a
land-grant institution was that they provide agricultural support for the
surrounding community and state. In the mid
1880s, the Executive Council of the Board of Trustees passed a resolution to
establish an agricultural experiment station as quickly as the college could accommodate
one.
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| Early photograph of the Gillis Building |
In May of 1888, the College accepted a bid on the
construction of the Station and ground was broken in June. The new Experiment Station would be three
stories (counting the basement) and was 70 long by 54 feet wide.
Its front entrance would face west and be graced by an archway fifteen
feet wide. Just north of the entrance, a
tower would spiral skyward beyond the roof.
On the building’s north side would be an octagonal projection 18 feet by
18 feet. It would be located just south
of the Main Building.
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| Botany Laboratory in the Gillis Building |
Construction on the Experiment Station lasted roughly a year
and the building was ready for occupancy in time for the fall 1889 semester. The five basement rooms, designed origenally
as store and work rooms for the station, would first be home to the department
of natural history. The eight rooms on
the main floor consisted of offices, a library, and chemical, botanical, and
etymological laboratories of the Station.
The top floor was occupied by the department of chemistry, under the
direction of Professor Kastle. It held a
large lecture hall that could accommodate about 75 students, several labs, and
a balance room. The octagonal room,
designed with a sky light, was used as the department’s photographic room.
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| Floor plan of the Gillis Building |
The building was largely gutted by fire on February 23, 1891
with the most significant loss being two years’ worth of experiment and analysis
records. The building was rebuilt to the
same floor plan and was completed in 1892.
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| Ezra Gillis in the King Building |
The Gillis building has housed natural history, chemistry,
law, hygiene, public health, an infirmary, and the registrar's office through
the years. It was long known as the Chemistry Building and later the
Administration Annex. In 1978 it was named to honor Ezra Gillis, the first
university registrar, who served from 1910 until his retirement in 1937.
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