Hameetman Center

Hameetman Center. . For over a century, this site has been home to a series of campus hubs that have provided the Caltech community with a central gathering space. The first such hub was known as the Old Dorm. Built in 1910 as a dormitory for the Throop Polytechnic Institute, the Old Dorm was moved to Caltech's campus in 1915 and served as the Institute's only student residence for 15 years. In 1924, a student center was built next to the Old Dorm. Named "the Dugout,” its focal point was its unique fireplace, built with the proceeds from a fundraiser that offered engraved bricks for a dollar apiece. The fireplace was composed of 376 bricks bearing students' names, with another 22 engraved by clubs and other donors. In 1934, the Dugout was remodeled and renamed the Throop Club until it was demolished in 1960. A new building, named the Winnett Student Center, was funded by Pasadena resident P.G. Winnett, who was a Caltech trustee from 1939 to 1968. The Winnett Student Center was enlarged and renovated in 1998 before its demolition in 2017.

The Hameetman Center was funded with a lead contribution from Caltech alumnus and trustee Fred Hameetman (BS '62) and his wife, Joyce. It boasts a rehearsal hall for Caltech's music programs, which was funded with a gift from Steven Frautschi and his wife, Mie. Preserving the legacy of previous generations of the Caltech community, the center features the engraved bricks from the Dugout, as well as an analemmatic sundial - a 2008 gift from members of the Caltech Alumni Association.