Tom Vodrey, Staff Writer—
Whenever I show an uninitiated friend or family member around Denison’s campus, there’s always one moment that reliably becomes one of the most memorable of the tour. This moment always comes when we arrive on A Quad when, among the immaculate landscaping, they set their eyes on Slayter Hall for the first time. No matter their reaction – ranging from horror to awe in my experience – Slayter is a building that consistently leaves an impression.
In part because of this, Slayter is my favorite piece of architecture on Denison’s campus. Although I’m aware of the derision its design elicits from those whose aesthetic sensibilities are offended by it, Slayter is a truly special building. More than any other at Denison, Slayter is a building worthy of discussion, consideration, and admiration.
Although it still uses brick, in many ways, Slayter feels more original than even newer buildings like Silverstein Hall. While those buildings feel reserved in their construction, the architects of Slayter dared to take chances in the form of their design and left us with a building that stands above the rest.
As the student union, Slayter is the center of the Hill, and not just because of its placement. Much of this is the result of the building’s function. A building that houses two dining locations, the University’s only mailroom, its only bookstore, an expansive auditorium, and so many meeting spaces and offices would have no choice but to have been the center of campus regardless of architectural decisions. Yet, the design of the building enhances this distinction.
Slayter’s structure is designed to make the building a landmark. No matter your familiarity with our campus, with its columns and imposing height, you can recognize by just looking at it that it’s an important center of the community. Inside Slayter, where there could have been long corridors of offices and regimented dining options and seating arrangements, are high ceilings and wide open spaces. There’s great freedom to the building. Students are given room to commune whether at the tables outside the market, the plush chairs on the third floor, or anywhere else. The wall-to-wall windows let sunshine in while students study between classes, and allow for views of the expanse outside during late nights at the Nest.
I will always remember the first time I saw Slayter, on my admissions tour sometime in the colder months of 2019. It was in that building where the tour came to an end, outside of the studio of Doobie Radio where I was told for the first time that Steve Carrell is an alumnus of this University, something I’ve been consistently reminded of ever since.
Beyond the questions I asked my tour guide and the statistics and testimonials I received in response, what I remember most about that tour were the students I saw in Slayter. Although it would be many more years before I found myself enrolled as a Denisonian, throughout them I would always remember seeing that space that gave students room to live in community with one another. Through its design Slayter ensures that it is and will always remain a place of community. It’s a place for studying or chatting with friends, for purchasing your books or a sandwich, for developing as a student and as a person – in short, it’s a place for the liberal arts college experience.