The History of RIT

A cursory overview of a complex past

Jake Shaffer

The Beginning: Converging Paths

Our story begins in 1829, only 12 years after Rochester itself was founded. The Athenaeum was created that year by Colonel Nathaniel Rochester and others "for the purpose of cultivating and promoting literature, science, and the arts." Over time, it became a cultural center and held public lectures and debates, and had a public library.

The Mechanics Literary Association was founded in 1836 and later merged with the Athenaeum to form the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics' Association.

The Mechanics Institute was founded in 1885 by Henry Lomb, Max Lowenthall, and Frank Ritter. It offered technical training for workers in a variety of industries, much like the cooperative education aspect of modern-day RIT. In 1891, the Mechanics Institute merged with the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics' Association to form the Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute, which would be the name of the institution until 1944.

Map of RIT's Downtown Campus

From Downtown to Henrietta: Unstoppable Force meets a Movable Campus

In 1944, the institution changed its name one last time to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). Enrollment in the institution's programs was steadily increasing up until the end of World War II in 1945. Then, enrollment exploded with the number of students doubling between 1950 and 1960. Much like today, the increasing number of students strained some campus facilities and overwhelmed others. The President of RIT Mark Ellingson and the Board of Trustees considered the boom in enrollment positive and important to RIT's mission of serving the community, but it also brought concerns.

Where will all these people live? Where will all these people take classes? RIT had been slowly acquiring the land surrounding it, but expanding in a packed city is expensive. In addition to considering expansion in the city, RIT considered relocating to other locations. A certain spot in Henrietta which would later become the new campus was placed at the top of the list.

A list of pros and cons of staying or moving

The Final Straw

While the debate between staying and moving continued, The New York State announced that it was planning to improve traffic for the Inner Loop (now Interstate 490) that would require knocking down Eastman Building, the main classroom and administrative building.

A New Hope: The city, eager to keep RIT in the city, presented a plan to bulldoze deteriorated property in the Third Ward and several hundred acres in order to appease RIT's growing space needs for academics and housing.

The Empire Strikes Back: The New York State announced a new plan that would allow the Eastman Building to stay at the expense of 11 buildings and isolating the gymnasium and ice arena from the rest of campus. The city appealed to the State to push the route around RIT, but the State refused citing engineering issues and added expenses.

The State's Plan for the Inner Loop

RIT students on their way to visit the newly announced campus (November 1961)

Adding to the decision, RIT received $3.27 million from Grace Watson in early 1961 which the Board of Trustees decided to use towards purchasing land in Henrietta. On November 22, 1961, the Board of Trustees announced that RIT was moving. The next day, morning classes were cancelled and excited students drove to visit the site of the new campus in Henrietta.

Welcome to Henrietta

An article from the RIT Reporter announcing the decision to move

Shortly after the announcement, the land for the new campus is purchased. A few years later in 1964, construction begins. A slight change in plans is added in 1966 when RIT is selected to be the campus for the federally sponsored National Technical Institute for the Deaf, which was created by Public Law 89-36 and signed by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. A short while later construction is completed and in 1968, RIT officially moves to its new campus in Henrietta.

The original campus was a lot emptier than what it is today. The only academic buildings were George Eastman Hall, Wallace Library, Liberal Arts Hall, James E. Booth Hall and Frank E. Gannet Hall, Thomas Gosnell Hall, James E. Gleason Hall, and one other building that no longer exists today (replaced by Orange Hall and a walkway).

Map of Campus 2021 vs. Campus Plan 1967

As you can see, a lot has changed from the initial campus. Instead of tennis courts, we have the Hale-Andrews Student Life Center. The number of dorm buildings has expanded and other residential areas like University Commons, Apex, Riverknoll, and Global Village have been built.

What's next?

Recently, the Cybersecurity Institute's construction was completed with the latest and greatest architecture and technology. In addition, the Student Hall for Exploration and Development (SHED) named by student Jonathan Dharmadi has begun construction and is on track to open for the Fall semester in 2023. When it opens, it will cover more than 120,000 sq. feet and contain a makerspace, individual rehearsal spaces, a large dance instruction studio, and a music rehearsal studio. It will also add 1,500 seats in 22 flexible classrooms and 5 150-seater extra-large classrooms.

The new academic fields across from the running track are starting to take shape. Additionally, a number of renovation projects are taking place in existing buildings like Booth and Gannet Hall, Wallace Library, and Golisano Hall to bring them up to modern standards.

In the future, a new Performing Arts Theater complex designed by Michael Maltzan Architecture Inc. out of Los Angeles is expected to being construction in the Spring semester of 2022 and likely complete in the Fall semester of 2023, according to James Yarrington. It will be three stories tall and have costume shops, scene shops, and offices. During the second phase of development, if funding is secured, a 1500 seat orchestra hall with a stage will be built which will nearly triple the largest venue on campus (currently the Robert F. Panara Theatre in Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall with 440 seats).

A render of the new Performing Arts Complex at night

And in the far future, the farmlands south of the outer loop will likely be converted to more campus space as the locations for new buildings dwindles on the north side.

RIT's (outdated) master plan including long-term south campus development

Sources

A list of pros and cons of staying or moving

RIT students on their way to visit the newly announced campus (November 1961)

An article from the RIT Reporter announcing the decision to move

A render of the new Performing Arts Complex at night

RIT's (outdated) master plan including long-term south campus development