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Cam Henderson Center

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1980–1981, Robert J. Bennett and the Eggers Group (Bennett/Eggers). South side of 3rd Ave. between 18th and 20th sts.
  • (West Virginia Collection within the Carol M. Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division)

The Henderson Center, the most sculptural of Marshall's buildings, houses the physical education department. It is best seen from the northeast, where the design was not constrained by existing campus buildings. There, white-clad walls on a dark gray base sweep upward to a butterfly roof—a dramatic outward expression of spectator accommodations in the 10,250-seat basketball court within. The exposed concrete ramp that provides handicap access from 3rd Avenue is treated sensitively and integrally as part of the design. In addition to the basketball court, Henderson Center houses a natatorium, racquetball and squash courts, locker rooms, and offices, many below grade. At its southwestern corner, the building wraps around the earlier physical education building, Gullickson Hall (1959, Frampton and Bowers), and relates to other college structures with a lower height, brick facing, and smaller scale. The architects, Bennett of Morgantown and the Eggers Group of New York, designed it in a joint venture.

Writing Credits

Author: 
S. Allen Chambers Jr.

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