Watson and Marion Halls
Construction Began: November 1952
Occupied: September 1954
Dedicated: November 14, 1954
Cost: $2,893,000
Contractors: Edmund J. Rappoli Company
Architects: Lorimer Rich and Associates; King and King
Landscaping: Noredo Rotunno
Materials: Reinforced concrete with brick facing and limestone trim
Location: Watson: Bounded by University Place, Comstock Ave and Waverly Ave and Walnut Ave.
Marion: Northern side of Waverly Ave. between Walnut and Comstock Ave.
Notes:
In June 1952 Syracuse University signed a loan agreement with the U.S. Housing and Home Finance Agency to borrow $2.75 million for construction of a men's dormitory unit containing two dormitories and a dining hall.
Watson Dormitory was named for Thomas J. Watson, Sr., who was President of IBM from 1914 to 1949 and Chairman of the Board beginning in 1949. Frank J. Marion, for whom Marion Dormitory was named, was a graduate of the class of 1890, a motion picture pioneer and a University trustee since 1913.
Watson is a large, four story, U-shaped dormitory. Marion is a L-shaped, three story dormitory. The dining hall in Watson serves students in both dormitories and has a capacity to serve 432 persons. When constructed Watson Dormitory had space for 517 students while Marion Dormitory held 148. Watson and Marion are now coed dorms. Marion, in fact, was the last dorm to lose single-sex status, switching from all-female to coed in the fall of 1996.
Marion Hall (along with Shaw Hall) was refurbished as part of a $1 million project in 1988. In the summer of 1989 Watson underwent renovations. The open end of the U-shaped building was enclosed, increasing the available space from 374 to 486 beds. Flourescent lights were also installed. J.D. Taylor Construction oversaw the $5 million renovations.
