Andrew Cobb and Studley Campus

Photograph of Andrew Cobb

Andrew Cobb was born in the United States in 1876. At the age of 14, he moved to Greenwich, Nova Scotia, with his mother and sister. After graduating from Acadia University he earned a master’s degree in architecture from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before moving to Paris to study at the Ecole nationale des Beaux-Arts from 1907–1909.

He began practising in Halifax in partnership with Sydney P. Dumaresq, whom he had met at Acadia, collaborating on the memorial tower, known as the Dingle, erected in Sir Sandford Fleming Park in 1912. Cobb went on to become known for his domestic architecture in Halifax and Bedford, as well as for institutional designs at Dalhousie and other universities. He died in 1943 in a motor accident.

Andrew Cobb was responsible for much of Studley Campus' design. Some of the Dalhousie buildings that he contributed to include Shirreff Hall, the Provincial Archives Building (now the Chase Building), and the Studley Gymnasium. He also designed Studley's first three buildings: the Science Building, the Macdonald Building, and the Arts Building.

The vision of Dalhousie

This brochure shows Andrew Cobb's vision for Studley Campus.

The Science Building

The Science Building, now known as the Chemistry Building, was the first building built on Studley Campus in 1912-1915.

Photograph of the Science Building

The Macdonald Memorial Library

The Macdonald Memorial Library was built in 1914-1915 and was named after Charles Macdonald, a Dalhousie professor who bequeathed the university $2000 for a library. Since the Killam Memorial Library was built, the building has been known as the Macdonald Building.

Photograph of the MacDonald Memorial Library

The Arts Building

When Cobb's third Dalhousie building was built in 1921, it was intended to house the arts faculty and eventually the law school. Today, it houses the University Club.

Photograph of the Arts Building

Other works by Andrew Cobb

Andrew Cobb was not only known for his work at Dalhousie University. Here is a selection of other well-known works by Cobb:

  • The Dingle (Halifax), with Syd Dumaresq
  • King's Arts and Administration building (University of King's College)
  • Emmerson Hall (Acadia University)
  • Worker housing for the Armstrong-Whitworth Pulp & Paper Co. (Corner Brook)
  • Centennial Hall (Mount Allison University)

Sources

"Chemistry Building," Buildings of Dalhousie University, Dalspace

"Cobb, Andrew Randall," Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950

"Macdonald Building," Buildings of Dalhousie University, Dalspace

"University Club," Buildings of Dalhousie University, Dalspace