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Pearce-Ford Tower (WKU) |
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Other Names - Men's Dormitory #10 Date Built - opened 1970 Cost of Construction - $4.3 million Size - 246'7", 180,400 square feet Architects - Ryan Associated Architects Namesakes: William Pearce served as Ogden College president from 1913 to 1920 when he resigned to become the director of WKU's Department of Extension and Correspondence. He held this position until his retirement in 1959. Pearce was WKU president Kelly Thompson's father-in-law. M.C. Ford (1888-1940) attended Hartford College before enrolling in Western in 1909. He joined the faculty at WKU in 1913, teaching science and agriculture and becoming the chair of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. Ford obtained his PhD from the University of Wisconsin and served Western until his untimely death in 1940. History: The 27 story men's dormitory opened in the fall of 1970 and accommodated 920 residents. At the time, it was the tallest building in Southern Kentucky at 246 feet, 7 inches. Pearce Ford Tower is 180,400 square feet and has apartments for a dorm director and two assistants. During 1993-94 the first ten floors were reopened before renovations were completed due to an unexpected increase in the number of incoming freshman. Additions: 1988 - repaired flaking bricks 1993-1994 - $200,000 renovations 2007 - $9.5 million lobby, first and second floor renovations and new fire alarm system and lighting; 3000 square foot convenience store and restaurant. 2008 - creation of Learning and Living Communities College Heights Herald: 1971 - Aug. 24 p. 19 1976- Nov. 12 p. 1; Nov. 23 p. 1; Dec. 3 p. 2 1987 - Nov. 3 p. 7 1990 - Jan. 25 "27th Floor of Pearce-Ford Shows It Like It Really Is," Sept. 14, 1971 "Architect Says Defect of Tower Not Serious," Feb. 17, 1987. "Attitudes of Dorm Residents Are Better, Director Says," April 8, 1986 Batcheldor, Matt. "Fire a Valid Threat for PFT," Jan. 27, 1998. "Budget Cut Explained," Oct. 16, 1980 "Campus Police Probing the Buzzing of Pearce-Ford Four Times in One Night," Aug. 22, 1989 Cross, Al. "Commissioner Questions Pearce-Ford Fire Safety," Jan. 22, 1974. Crouch, Donna & Lynn Hoppes. "Pearce-Ford's Falling Bricks May Cost Western $500,000," Feb. 3, 1987. "Dorm Surveillance Protested; Residents Charge Rights Violation," Nov. 24, 1981 "Elevators No. 1 Gripe at Pearce-Ford," Dec. 10, 1971 "Fire Causes Minor Damage in Dorm," Mar 7, 1978 "Fire Damages Tower Kitchen," Jan. 23, 1986. "Frankfort Contracting Decision Stalls PFT Renovations," April 4, 1994 Jones, Terry. Construction Projects Near Completion," Aug. 23, 1977 "Men's Dorm Opens in Fall Semester," Aug. 24, 1971 Moore, Leigh Ann. "Policy Change in Poland and PFT," Feb. 12, 1998 "Movies and VCR's Can Now be Rented in The Pickup Grocery by Western Students, Faculty and Staff, Jan. 12, 1988 "Murals Help Liven Up Dorm Walls," Aug. 1, 1968 "New Dorm to be Tallest in Kentucky," Aug. 1, 1968 "Paper Fire," Sept. 14, 1993 "Pearce-Ford Tower," Sept. 19, 1968, July 28, 1970 "Pearce-Ford WT Face Hazy Futures," Dec. 11, 1970 "PFT Residents Want to Open Locked Dorm Windows," Jan. 25, 1990 "PFT: Work on Dorm Will Begin This Summer, Mar. 29, 1994 "Plumbing, Water and Clean Up, Jan. 14, 1993 "Police Investigating Graffiti in Stairwells," Nov. 25, 1986 "Residents to Move to Other Dorms for Spring Semester," Dec. 9, 1993 "Restaurant at Top of Tower Will Close," Sep. 10, 1992 "Smoke Detectors Fail in Trash-Chute Fire," Mar. 1, 1990 "Student Sets up Quiet Floor in Pearce-Ford Tower," Feb. 4, 1975 "Students Living in Residence Hall Enjoy View," Dec. 1, 1983 "Students Moving Into Lower 10 Floors Temporarily," Aug. 24, 1993 "Study Area on 27th Floor to be Director's Top Priority," Feb. 23, 1989 "Tower Residents to Repair 14 x 36 Foot Red Towel," Sep. 13, 1983 "Tower Windows, Locked Since 1986, Will Now Open Two Inches for Fresh Air," Aug. 21, 1990 "Troubled Tower Should be Closed," Apr. 15, 1993 "Vandalism to P-F Elevator is Largest Felony Incident at Western Since 1974," Mar. 24, 1983 "Windows in Dorm to be Sealed Permanently," April 25, 1985 "Windows to Remain Locked Until Design Changes Are Made," Feb. 1, 1990 "With Tower Closing, Some RAs Will be Getting Roommates," Jan. 13, 1994. Park City Daily News "$3.97 Million Low Bid on WKU Dorm," Aug. 30, 1968. Bauer, David. "Flaking Brick on WKU Dormitory Being Repaired," Dec. 10, 1987. Dennis, Andy. "Student Overflow to Keep Dorm Open," Aug. 8, 1993. "Former Extension Head, William M. Pearce, Dies," Sept. 4, 1970. Hightower, Paul. "It Does Have a Top," photo, May 28, 1970. "The Tallest," photo, Dec. 10, 1972. Jackson, Lisa. "Western Buzzing Incident Sparks FAA Investigation," Aug. 31, 1987. Jordan, Natalie. "Like-Minded Living," Sep. 10, 2008, Learning & Living Communities. "Tower Getting Renovations," July 25, 2007. Reagan, Stan. "Heating Unit Falls, Crushes Man at WKU," Sep. 19, 1994. Roe, Bobby. "In the New Snack Bar," photo, Feb. 6, 1985. Sisco, Scott. "PFT ‘Prank’ Costing Money, Nights of Sleep," April 12, 2003. "Police Investigate Residence Hall Fires," Feb. 20, 2002. Weaver, LaMar. "Tower Repair," photo, May 11, 1988. "Western Plans 28-Story Dormitory for 920 Men," July 31, 1968 "Western Student Jumps from PFT," Nov. 9, 2006, Dylan Prott. "WKU Residence Hall to Close for Renovation," April 14, 1993. Wildman, Judy. " KEWS Emergency Warning System Airlifted Into Place on Tower," Aug. 11, 1978. Louisville Courier-Journal "Kentucky's Tallest Dorm," photo, Aug. 1, 1968. Ryan, Ed. "27-Story Dormitory Planned at Western Kentucky University," Aug. 1, 1968 UA2 Board of Regents - Meeting Minutes - http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/bor/ UA11 University Relations Building & Construction File Press Release September 17, 1970 - see below UA30/1/1 Blueprints, Drawings & Plans - inventory - http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_fin_aid/81/ UA30/1/2 Building File - inventory - http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_ua_fin_aid/58/ Tower Dormitory for Western Men Opens Next Fall, Press Release 9/17/1970: It is now under construction near the South end of the Western campus by Allen and O’Hara Inc. of Memphis, Tenn. The $4.3 million air-conditioned structure will contain 180,400 square feet of enclosed space and accommodations for 920 men students. Apartments for dorm directors, study lounges, a lobby, and other facilities are also included. Pearce-Ford Tower, the 17th residence hall on the Western campus, outstretches the 23-story twin dormitories on the University of Kentucky campus – Blanding Tower and Kirwan Tower. Bowling Green’s tallest building at present is Western Towers, 15-story dormitories located off campus and owned privately. W.M. Pearce served as Director of the Department of Extension and Correspondence at Western from 1920 until he retired in 1959. He also served as advisor and unofficial aid to two Western presidents, Dr. H.H. Cherry and Dr. Paul L. Garrett. Dr. M.C. Ford was a member of the Western faculty from 1913 until 1940. He was head of the Department of Agriculture for his last 22 years at Western. He also acted as advisor to Dr. Cherry and Dr. Garrett. |
Archives Entries |
143 |
Library Entries |
6 |
Object Entries |
0 |
Photograph Entries |
112 |
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