Northeastern State University

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Seminary Hall represents the oldest institution of higher education in Oklahoma.

Seminary Hall

Northeastern State University

As the oldest institution of higher education in Oklahoma, Seminary Hall is a historically significant building constructed in 1889. Built initially as the Cherokee Nation Female Seminary, the building was purchased by the state of Oklahoma in 1909 and became Northeastern State University (NSU).

The Cherokee Nation, NSU, and Narrate Design, in collaboration with technical preservation consultant Walter Sedovic Architects, partnered to restore the beautiful, aging building.

Beginning in 2017, this project took place over the course of three phases. On May 11, 2023, NSU celebrated the completion of Seminary Hall’s restoration with a ribbon cutting.

Revelation Rather the Restoration

In the mid-1970s the building underwent significant remodel that was not in sync with the original design. That, along with the wear and tear of a 130+-year-old building had caused a deterioration of building conditions. As a result, the goal was to achieve the owner’s vision of modernization while simultaneously extracting—and then refining—earlier interventions that erased or diminished the building’s best intrinsic qualities while repairing and mitigating damage.

In a process better described as revelation than restoration, Narrate’s aim in this project was to discover and then put back into service the building’s best attributes.

Our Design Team’s efforts focused on:

– Developing solutions that address causes of deterioration, not just symptoms;

– Identifying timeless modern approaches to technological and spatial interventions that work in concert with the original building form, not detract from it;

– Enhancing the building’s already-sustainable building attributes to economically and naturally increase performance while lowering ongoing operation and maintenance costs;

– Retaining the patina of authenticity inside and out.

The Investigation

The project began with an extensive field investigation and documentation of current conditions throughout the building and associated grounds. With the aid of a telescoping 120-foot lift, the design team performed a hands-on survey of the main façade and compiled findings and recommendations.

THE PLAN

Combining this field knowledge with information from archival sources, a comprehensive plan was created to attain the desired objectives encompassing spatial change, user amenities, building preservation, operational efficiency, budget, and timeline.

THOUGHTFUL DETAILS

The plan was carried out with respect and reverence for the building’s history. Thoughtful details included:

– Using salvaged wood and brick from the 1800s to match the original building materials along with lime render instead of modern concrete, as was the method when the building was constructed.

– Reconstructed dormers designed to match the distinctive half-octagon shape shown in the building’s original drawings, bringing them back to the original vision.

– Modern aluminum windows added in the 90s were replaced with custom-made wooden windows carefully crafted to match the originals.

Seminary Hall is one of the most historically significant buildings in Oklahoma, and this project ensured that it will be around for at least another 130 years.