An 84-year-old UF Landmark Gets a Makeover
One of the most anticipated campus building projects in recent years has been the rehabilitation and expansion of Norman Hall, the historic home of the UF College of Education. Supported by $31.5 million in funding from the Florida Legislature and overseen by Walker Architects, the project was Norman Hall’s first major renovation in its 84-year history.
Completed in fall 2019, the 18-month-long interior rehab saw the stately brick structure undergo a top-to-bottom makeover, from new windows, plumbing and HVAC, to restoration of vintage paneling and ceiling tiles, to the creation of a new conference center and a cozy café space. Classrooms have been reconfigured for 21st-century technologies and teaching practices (hello, modular seating and hybrid learning!), and dedicated spaces enable research in early-childhood studies, advanced learning technologies and other areas.
“We have the perfect blend of retaining the historic character of the building with introducing the most recent innovations to prepare future educators and education researchers,” said Dean Glenn Good.
Above all, the “new” Norman Hall prioritizes the student experience, said Dean Good. With his blessing, the ground-floor dean’s office – the first thing visitors used to encounter entering the building — was relocated to the second floor and replaced with a large, light-filled commons area.
“Now there are places for students to sit and study and collaborate with their peers year-round,” he said. “We renovated these old wooden alcoves, and now you’ll see students sitting in them, with their feet up and their laptops. This is just as we envisioned it.”
Here are some before, during and after scenes from Norman Hall’s dramatic rehabilitation. 
Published
April 27, 2022
Built in 1931-34, Norman Hall is a superb example of collegiate gothic architecture. It originally housed the P.K. Yonge Laboratory School for grades K-12 and was later renamed for James W. Norman, dean of the College of Education. Norman Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and suffered subsequent decades of deferred repairs, leading to a push for the renovation.
The original P.K. Yonge library (shown here in the 1940s) featured lustrous wood paneling and an ornate tiled ceiling. Over time, the wood paneling took a beating, and the tiles were covered with a false ceiling and forgotten.
Conserving historic elements was central to the Norman Hall renovation. In this photo from November 2018, a worker indicates the original tile and wood paneling to be preserved on the ground floor.
Rather than replace the original library ceiling, a local artist painstakingly restored each tile by hand, highlighting details with gilt trim. The decision to restore the tiles, rather than install new ones, preserved a piece of history at one-tenth the cost of replacement.
Using historical photographs, craftspeople brought the original library back to its former glory. The environmentally conscious renovation qualified Norman Hall for a Gold Level Certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.
This view of the renovated ground floor shows how the original tile and paneling are blended with open seating and a calming color palette.
The student-centered renovation puts mingling and collaboration at the heart of the building’s functions.
This view from the new ground-floor student commons area shows Norman’s historic arched front doorway. The glassed-in study area was formerly the dean’s office.
Renowned muralist Don Rimx transformed this Norman stairwell with bold images representing the power of innovation in education. The mural was funded by Florida’s Art in State Buildings program.
Located blocks from eateries, getting a bite was never easy for Norman Hall students and faculty. An unfinished basement was turned into a welcoming space now occupied by Starbucks and The Market convenience store.
