Hardman Hall – UGA 1031 (1918, 1971; Category 2). Hardman Hall is located east of the Dance Building on South Campus. It was constructed in 1922 to house the Department of Animal Science as part of the College of Agriculture, and featured an interior livestock arena for cattle exhibitions. It was sited in a wooded area near various farm structures including barns, sheds, greenhouses, and cottages associated with the college.
After World War II, Hardman Hall served as home to the College of Veterinary Medicine and later as a location for women’s physical education classes. The building was adapted for use by the Aerospace Studies (Air Force ROTC) program in 1971. The building was named for Lamartine G. Hardman, a physician interested in education who served as Georgia governor from 1927 to 1931.
Hardman Hall is a rectangular, two-story brick building with its primary entrance facing east toward the axis of Brooks Mall and D. W. Brooks Avenue. It appears that the original building was organized around the two-story central livestock arena that may have had a clerestory above the roof level. The interior of the building has been dramatically reconfigured to accommodate its current use, though some interior historic detailing remains, including walls, wainscoting, wood trim, and an open interior stairway. The area that likely contained the clerestory above the central livestock arena has been renovated and redesigned to provide an additional third floor level.
In addition to its tan brick walls, remaining historic fabric on the exterior includes the wide wood roof eaves, original entrance doors on the north elevation, and, most significantly, original wood double-hung windows. The original windows are important character-defining features. Thin storm windows and screens have been installed on the exterior of the windows.
Hardman Hall has been altered to adapt to contemporary use but retains sufficient integrity to convey its historic character and is significant to the College of Agriculture that was established on South Campus in the early twentieth century. The building appears to contribute to a National Register-eligible historic district. It is assessed as a Category 2 resource.
