Merwin J. Larsen Hall

Honoree

Merwin J. Larsen

In 1910 the College of Engineering was established with three departments including civil, electrical and mechanical. From 1952 to 1965, Merwin J. Larsen served as chairman of the Department of Electrical Engineering. Larsen guided the department through many changes during the post war period. Enrollment throughout the college and the department increased rapidly including the admission of women. In the late 1950’s, the Electrical Engineering Department reached two milestones - the first woman, Jacquelin M. Bash, was awarded a bachelor’s degree, and the first Ph.D. was awarded to William Edward "Ed" Lear, Sr. The graduate school program swelled to 29 students.

With the advent of the space age, Larsen witnessed the addition of the circuits and electronics research laboratories in 1952. In the early 1960’s the first formal organizational meeting for the UF Student Satellite Tracking Station was held. By the end of his term, construction had already begun on the new electrical engineering building which, together with buildings for aerospace, chemical and environmental engineering, would form the south engineering complex.

In 1970, the Department of Electrical Engineering, at its dedication of the new engineering complex, recognized Larsen’s contributions to the department by naming one of the nine new buildings in his honor. His contributions are further memorialized by the Merwin J. Larsen Scholarship, a graduate school scholarship that is available to outstanding juniors or seniors in electrical and computer engineering.

Facility History

Merwin J. Larsen Hall houses the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Larsen Hall is located near Center Drive adjacent to Benton Hall.

Click here to visit Larsen Hall virtually through UF's campus map