Farewell, McCollum
McCollum Hall, the largest residence hall at the University of Kansas, was demolished at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 25, 2015.
Built in 1965, 10-story McCollum Hall was originally designed with a capacity of 910 residents. With two new residence halls now facing Lewis and Hashinger halls, the McCollum site will be paved for much-needed parking.
McCollum Facts
- Dedicated Oct. 17, 1965
- 10 residiential floors plus basement
- Original capacity: 488 rooms for 976 residents
- Size: 222,220 square feet
- Total cost: $3,480,000
- Named for brothers Elmer V. McCollum, c'03, g'04, and Burton McCollum, e'03
Coverage
Just here for the implosion? Skip ahead to 25:00.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening?
Two new residence halls opened on Daisy Hill this year (Self and Oswald Halls), so McCollum Hall is being demolished to make way for a new parking lot. The building will be imploded at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 25.
Where’s the best place to watch it happen?
The designated public viewing area is behind Oliver Hall, although there are no scheduled activities for that site—other than a chance to join the group’s gasps, cheers and tears as McCollum Hall tumbles in on itself.
What about traffic?
In order to create a 600-foot safety zone, Iowa Street will be closed from 15th to 21st streets and westbound 19th Street will be closed from Naismith Drive to Constant Avenue on West Campus. The intersection at 15th Street and Engel Road—the northern access point to Daisy Hill—will also close, barricades will restrict access around West Campus, and the Irving Hill bridge will be closed. Officials anticipate that all road closures will be removed by 10 a.m.
Can I watch it online?
Yes! The Alumni Association will be livestreaming the implosion and the video will be available on this page. And don’t worry—if you can’t watch it live, you can come back later to watch the implosion plus additional coverage. You can also follow along on social media using #KUMcCollum.
What happened to the furniture and other pieces of McCollum?
McCollum’s furniture and interior accessories were removed and re-used, metal materials are being recycled, and concrete and masonry will be crushed and used as gravel fill for campus construction projects.
McCollum Hall is imploded
McCollum Hall in the 1980s
Memories of McCollum
Remembering McCollum: Stories from alumni
Stories from alumni about their experiences in McCollum Hall, shared with the KU Alumni Association
Study, think—and sleep well, men
This article about the dedication of McCollum Hall originally appeared in Kansas Alumni magazine.
An ode to 'Big Mac Triple Stack'
A former Ellsworth Hall resident looks back fondly at time spent in McCollum Hall.
Thanks for the memories, McCollum
Ben Ashworth, c’12, j’12, l’15, wrote a letter to the editor about his three years as a McCollum resident.
Ahead of McCollum Hall demolition, students and alumni share stories of living in the residence hall
Throwback Thursday: McCollum Hall edition
The KSRL blog shared photos of McCollum from University Archives.
How living in McCollum changed the course of my life
A former resident assistant shares how a not-very-captivating staff meeting led to a stint in the Peace Corps.