On top of the hill, at the very heart of campus, there is University College, the poster child of The University of Western Ontario (figure 1). Inside of University College, you will find the beautiful Conron Hall which captures some of the original design elements of the University as well as an attempt to preserve the original design through renovations and updates that have taken place since the original establishment.

When I first entered the space, I was taken aback by the size of the room and the size of the great frosted and stained glass windows flanking the eastern wall and extending around the back (figure 2). Secondly, I noticed the stage which is front and center in the room, and the relatively modern seating on both the main level and balcony (figure 3). My two favourite aspects of this great space are the wooden panelling and the ceilings.  The wooden panelling extends from the floor up about 12 feet. It is made of a rich dark colour that gives the space a really elegant feeling as well as the feeling of importance. It feels that without all of the seating and the stage, this could be an elegant ballroom from decades ago. The ceiling is extremely high and a crisp white colour with dark wooden beams that tie into the wood along the walls. On the windows, there are stained glass details of different symbols or coats of arms. I was unable to find any description of this detailing anywhere inside the hall or searching the internet for answers which was puzzling to me.

During the time I was sitting in Conron Hall, I could hear a repetitive clicking sound. I could imagine that with someone lecturing or performing a play, this would go relatively unnoticed. On the other hand, the traffic in the hallways was quite noticeable and rather annoying when the room was empty which could interfere with lectures or performances. Despite this, I was pleased to see that access to the space is not limited even to those who are unable to tackle the large sets of stairs, as there is an elevator that reaches both levels of the hall.

Walking around, getting a feel for the space, I noticed myself moving more slowly and I can only imagine I would have spoken more quietly which are both characteristic of how such a massive space makes one feel small, vulnerable and uneasy. This feeling could be lifted if the space were to be full of people because there would be more noise and the bodies would help eliminate some of the empty space that makes the room feel so massive in size. I do however think this feeling of vulnerability and self-consciousness in relation to making any sudden movements or speaking too loudly goes along perfectly with the use of the space as a lecture or performance hall. The vast size and the feeling of awe makes you focus on what is being presented in front of you, captivating you similarly to the design elements.

While inside the space, one thing that struck me like nothing else was the framing around the stage and the inlays on either side of the stage which in my opinion have been constructed in a white cheap looking ceramic-type of material. They seemed to stick out and throw off the entire balance of the rest of the space. In addition, the niches flanking the stage appear as though they should have a sculpture or something inside of them, but this aspect is absent which makes them look pointless and unfinished.


Conron Hall underwent some renovations since its original construction and actually received its name, Conron Hall, from the person who donated the funds for the renovations. More information on Mr. Conron can be found by clicking here. Conron Hall is used as a lecture hall for classes as well as for guest speakers. The seating is very comfortable and has been replaced since the original construction of the hall. In addition to the seating, a large projection screen which is electronically operated is installed in front of the stage which greatly alters the historical or original design of the space. The large stained glass windows have electronically powered blackout blinds that can be lowered to allow for better functionality of the space for its current purpose as a lecture theatre with projection screens. I also speculate that the interior west wall is part of a relatively recent renovation as it appears to mimic the large scale windows on the east wall.

It really appears that there was a strong attempt to preserve and mimic the original architecture during the renovations rather than changing the entire space. Some of the updates are failed attempts but the technological adaptations that were made seem necessary if the space is to be used as a lecture hall in a technological era. If you ever want to step into a space that is not too far from home, and have the feeling of almost going back in time and experiencing rich, elegant design, Conron Hall is an excellent place to explore.