Alexander-Dickman Hall, formerly known as Old Sem, Old Main, and College Hall, is a historic building located on the campus of

Upper Iowa University Upper Iowa University (UIU) is a private university in Fayette, Iowa. It enrolls around 6000 students and offers distance education programs that include 15 centers in the U.S., an online program, an independent study program, and centers in ...

Fayette, Iowa Fayette is a city in Fayette County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 1,256. It was named after the Marquis de la Fayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War. Fayette is the home of Upper Iowa Univ ...

, United States. It was the first building built for the college, and for a number of years it was its only building. Construction on the building began in 1855 and it was completed two years later. Its significance derives, in part, from it being "one of the largest and best preserved native stone buildings still in use in Iowa." with Architecturally, the three-story

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...

structure is influenced by several styles. Its simplicity of form reflects the Neoclassical style in its evenly spaced windows and arched doorway. The

Palladian window Palladian architecture is a European architectural style derived from the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). What is today recognised as Palladian architecture evolved from his concepts of symmetry, perspective and ...

s and the structure's tripartite arrangement capped by a triangular

pediment Pediments are gables, usually of a triangular shape. Pediments are placed above the horizontal structure of the lintel, or entablature, if supported by columns. Pediments can contain an overdoor and are usually topped by hood moulds. A pedimen ...

of the main facade reflects the

Federalist The term ''federalist'' describes several political beliefs around the world. It may also refer to the concept of parties, whose members or supporters called themselves ''Federalists''. History Europe federation In Europe, proponents of de ...

style. The bracketed

eaves The eaves are the edges of the roof which overhang the face of a wall and, normally, project beyond the side of a building. The eaves form an overhang to throw water clear of the walls and may be highly decorated as part of an architectural styl ...

at the

cornice In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...

reflects the Italianate style. The building is capped with a domed

cupola In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, most often dome-like, tall structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome. The word derives, via Italian, from ...

. It received its present name in 1963 being named for the man who first financed to college (Alexander) and its president in the 1920s (Dickman). The building was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1976.

References

University and college buildings completed in 1857 Upper Iowa University Neoclassical architecture in Iowa Buildings and structures in Fayette County, Iowa National Register of Historic Places in Fayette County, Iowa University and college buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Iowa 1857 establishments in Iowa {{Iowa-struct-stub