Richards Hall

Richards Hall. . This building is named for Dr. Aute Richards, head of the department of Zoology from his arrival at the University of Oklahoma in 1920 until 1942. Dr. Richards also served the university as director of the School of Applied Biology (1934-1942), Director of the Oklahoma Biological Survey (1927-1949), and Director of the Oklahoma Museum of Zoology (1924-1942). A nationally recognized expert in the fields of cytology and comparative embryology, his textbook “Comparative Embryology” was a pathbreaking work in the field. During Dr. Richards' tenure, the Department of Zoology grew from one graduate student to over 20 faculty and staff. , Until 1935, the Zoology and Botany-Microbiology departments lacked a central location and adequate lab facilities: some classes were even held in a wooden gymnasium. In 1935, President Bizzell secured a $250.000 grant from the Works Progress Administration to build a Biological Sciences building. Designed by Architecture Professor Joe Smay in 6 weeks, it was the first structure built on the South Oval. It was renamed after Dr. Richards upon his retirement in 1950. The building was expanded in 1971, and underwent an extensive renovation in 1981. , Richards Hall has a simple, functional beauty that is accented by the carved ornamentation above each entrance. These decorations depict various animal types and cellular divisions, signifying the fundamental tenets of biological science. They are also monuments to those like Aute Richards who furthered the cause of the biological sciences in Oklahoma higher education.