Administration Building

Built in 1907-1910, this Tudor Revival structure with its four towers is the landmark of the campus. In 1979, a fire destroyed the north wing and the west wing, the latter of which is largely restored. In addition, the entire second floor has been extensively renovated.  This historic building houses Admissions, Career Services, the Graduate Office, Registrar’s Office, Student Financial Assistance, various administrative and student services offices and the Office of Human Resources Management.

Alfred McKemy Agricultural Education Center

Located to the north of campus, this structure was completed in 1971. It is named after a former member and president of the Board of Regents.

Alumni House

Located on College Avenue, the Federal-style structure is owned by the non-profit Northwest Foundation, and its offices are leased to the University Office of Development and Alumni Relations.

B.D. Owens Library

Named for the eighth president of the University, this limestone and glass structure opened in 1983.

Bearcat Arena

The home of Bearcat basketball and part of Lamkin Activity Center.            

Bearcat Bookstore

Located on the second floor of the J.W. Jones Student Union.

Bearcat Stadium

The home of Bearcats football also comprises Mel Tjeerdsma Field (the playing surface itself) and Herschel Neil Track.

Located across from the J.W. Jones Student Union, this Neo-Gothic structure was renovated in 1987 and named for Everett W. Brown, an alumnus, long-time staff member and eight-term member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Built in 1939, Brown Hall houses the Departments of Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership in addition to the Horace Mann Laboratory School.

Charles Johnson Theater

The 549-seat Charles Johnson Theater, housed inside the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building, is named for the first chairman of the Spring Festival of the Arts, which evolved into the University’s Encore Performances series.

Colden Hall

Completed 1959, this V-shaped structure is named for Charles J. Colden, the first president of the Board of Regents. Renovated in 1996-97, it contains classrooms and offices for the departments of Accounting, Economics and Finance; Computer and Science Information Systems; English; Marketing and Management; and Psychology, Sociology and Counseling.

Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building

Located on the south side of the campus, this circular structure was dedicated in 1965 and named for long-time art teacher Olive DeLuce. It contains studios, the DeLuce Gallery, classrooms, rehearsal rooms and offices for the departments of Music and Art.

Dieterich Hall

Named for H.R. Dieterich, this seven-story men’s residence hall is located on the northwest side of campus.

Fire Arts Building

Completed in 2004, the Fire Arts Building is a separate structure located to the south of the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. It houses art programs in sculpture and pottery that require the use of “fire and fume.” The building is equipped with a variety of sophisticated safety, fire prevention and ventilation systems.

Named for Katherine Franken, psychology faculty, this seven-story coed residence hall is located on the northwest side of campus.

Garrett-Strong Science Building

This building on the north side of campus honors two former department chairmen: William T. Garrett, Department of Biological Sciences; and J. Gordon Strong, Department of Chemistry and Physics.  Completed in 1968, Garrett-Strong contains laboratories, lecture halls and classrooms, as well as the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Physics, Geology and Geography and Mathematics and Statistics. 

Frank W. Grube Tennis Courts

Hudson-Perrin Freshman Residence Complex

This structure, which will house nearly 500 first-year students, is scheduled for completion in fall 2007. It is named for the first woman registrar, Nell Hudson, and the first dean of women, Alice R. Perrin.

J.W. Jones Student Union

The opening of this structure in 1952 fulfilled a long-time dream of J.W. Jones, sixth president of the University. A 1996 addition more than doubled the size of the building.           

The J.W. Jones Student Union is a split-level structure with three floors, and the basement is commonly referred to as the first floor. The “ground floor,” as accessed from the east union plaza, is commonly called the second floor.

Named facilities inside the union take initials capitals: the First Ladies Dining Room (never the First Ladies Room), the Living Room, the Boardroom, the Ballroom, the Tower View Room. Designations such as meeting room A, B, etc. are so expressed.

Larry and Velma Ehlert Bull Test Station

Named after the contributor who made the station possible, the facility contains the Bull Test Station and the University Student Rodeo Arena, both directed by the Department of Agriculture. It is located at the R.T. Wright University Farm.

Mabel Cook Admissions and Visitors Center

Located at the southeast entrance to campus, the center is named for a graduate of the Department of Human Environmental Services who later served on the faculty and chaired the department. The building serves as a visitors center and contains offices for admissions personnel.

Martindale Hall

Home to the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, this building is named after Nell Martindale Kuchs, who, beginning in the 1920s, was instrumental in developing the women's physical education program at Northwest. Referring to Martindale Gymnasium is incorrect.           

Mary Linn Auditorium

The main performance space in the Performing Arts Center located on the southwest side of campus, Mary Linn opened in 1984. Mary Casteel Linn was a regent and dedicated patron of the arts. The 1,099-seat theater can accommodate a full symphony orchestra and Broadway-style stage productions.

Mel Tjeerdsma Field

The football field, but not the stadium, was renamed in honor of head football coach Mel Tjeerdsma in 2007. Herschel Neil Track, which encircles the field, is named after the Bearcat track and field standout of the 1930s.

Memorial Bell Tower

Completed in 1971 and refurbished in 2004, this 100-foot structure dominates the central campus. The tower was constructed from funds donated by University friends and alumni and features a brass memorial plaque and an electronic carillon.

Millikan Hall

Named for Chloe Millikan, education faculty, this seven-story residence hall is located on the northwest side of campus.

North Complex

This structure contains Cooper Hall (for Albert H. Cooper, director of extension), Douglas hall (for former Regent R.L. Douglas), and Tower Hall. North Complex also houses the Missouri Academy for Science, Mathematics and Computing.

Performing Arts Center

The Performing Arts Center contains Mary Linn Auditorium and other facilities related to the dramatic arts, including a "black box" performance space, scene shop, costume shop, green room and faculty offices. A studio theater addition designed for experimental student productions is scheduled for completion by fall 2008.

Phillips Hall

One of the seven-story "high-rise" residence halls on the northwest side of campus.

R.T. Wright University Farm

A crop and livestock operation located three miles north of Maryville and used by the Department of Agriculture as an experimental farm and applied learning facility.

Robert P. Foster Aquatic Center

Named for the University's seventh president.

Roberta Hall

Roberta Hall, which provides housing for members of Northwest’s social sororities, is named for Roberta Steel, who lost her life after a 1951 explosion and fire that heavily damaged the building. Roberta Hall was completely remodeled in 1993-94.

Ryland Milner Complex

The complex comprises Lamkin Activity Center; Bearcat Arena; the Student Recreation Center; locker rooms; the weight room for Bearcat varsity athletes; a workout facility for students, faculty and staff; classrooms; and offices for Bearcat team coaches and administrators.

South Complex

This structure contains Wilson Hall (for Lon Wilson, dean of men), Richardson Hall (for fourth University president Ira Richardson), and Cook Hall (for T.H. Cook, history faculty).

Support Services Building

Located on 9^th Street on the east side of campus, the Support Services Building houses facilities for Campus Safety, Central Stores, Purchasing and Environmental Services.

The Station

This student services complex on the northwest side of campus contains lounges, meeting rooms, study areas, a convenience store and Textbook Services.

Thomas J. Gaunt House

Located across from the Alumni House on the south end of campus, the Gaunt House was constructed in 1870. The Classical Revival structure has been the home of University presidents since the founding of the institution in 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Thompson-Ringold Building

This building, located north of Wells Hall, was built in 1931 to house industrial arts programs. Both Kenneth Thompson and Howard Ringold were long-time faculty members of that department, which no longer exists.

Thompson-Ringold now houses the Department of History, Humanities, Philosophy and Political Science in addition to the Mail/Copy Center.

Uel W. Lamkin Activity Center

This is the umbrella name for Bearcat Arena, the Fitness Center and the offices, classrooms and other facilities comprising the Athletics Department.

University Wellness Center

This facility houses student medical facilities, the Counseling Center and other health and wellness-related offices.

Valk Agriculture Professions Center

Completed in 1970 and named for Donald N. Valk, long-time chair of the Department of Technology, the building became the home of the Department of Agriculture in 1993. Facilities include faculty offices, lecture rooms, laboratories and an agriculture museum.

Wells Hall

Built in 1939 as the University library, Wells Hall is named for the University’s first librarian, Edwin C. Wells. Since the opening of B.D. Owens Library, Wells has housed the departments of Communication and Theatre Arts, Mass Communication and Modern Language. It also contains KDLX-FM, KXCV/KRNW-FM and KNWT-TV.