Named after John Decatur Messick, President of East Carolina from 1947 to 1959, Messick Theatre Arts Building was constructed in 1927. John Messick served East Carolina during the transition from East Carolina Teachers College’s to East Carolina College and oversaw the construction of sixteen new buildings, as well as an increase in enrollment from 1,600 to 6,500 students. Originally home of the practice school, this building has undergone several renovations, additions, and name changes through the decades. The building now encompasses the Theatre Arts Department and is attached to McGinnis Auditorium.
- Other names
- Drama Building
- Built
- 1927
- Construction cost
- $57,364.86
- Gross sq. ft.
- 35,038
- Assignable sq. ft.
- 19,924
- Architects
- George Berryman, Raleigh, NC
- Namesake
- John Decatur Messick (1897-1993), a native North Carolinian and a Ph.D. Graduate of New York University was president of East Carolina from 1947 through 1959. During his term as president, the school’s name was changed from East Carolina Teachers College to East Carolina College, sixteen new buildings were built, and enrollment increased from 1600 to 6500 students.
2. Francis Wahl (1895-1984), a master’s recipient from the Teachers College at Columbia University, was a supervising teacher (1925-1961) and the principal (1936-1961) of the Wahl-Coates Laboratory School of East Carolina.3. Dora E. Coates (1891-1974), was a native North Carolinian and a master’s recipient from the Teachers College at Columbia University. She worked as a critic (or supervising) teacher from 1922 until 1929 here at ECU. Then she taught in the English Department until her retirement in 1951.
- History
- Constructed in 1927, the building replaced the original Model School and has undergone several renovations, additions, and name changes. The sweeping arches of the building continue the spanish-mission style architecture of the early campus buildings. In 1959, the building was named Wahl-Coates in honor of Francis Wahl and Dora E. Coates who each served the school for 30 years. In 1972, Greenville and ECU in a cooperative venture opened Wahl-Coates Public School relieving ECU of actually providing elementary classroom space. The building now houses the Theatre Arts Department and the attached McGinnis Auditorium, built in 1951-52.
- Additions
- 1929 – construction of second unit (19,360 gross square feet)
1949 – addition of the training school wing
1951 – theatre addition
1971 – added a laboratory
1972 – fire alarm replacement/repairs
1979 – repaired roof
1981 – new stage and auditorium renovations (new heating and air ventilation)