Seibert Hall
F. Page Seibert Hall, commonly the Seibert Gym, is a multi-purpose athletics building for the Samford Bulldogs basketball and volleyball programs on the campus of Samford University in Homewood.
The building, designed by Davis, Speake & Thrasher architects, incorporates red brick veneer with limestone trim mirrors the Georgian-style design of other campus buildings. It is built into a hillside with two stories above grade on the north entrance facade, marked with an arched portico. The central gabled section is wrapped by flat-roofed wings on three sides, with a four-story south facade forming a backdrop for the north end zone of Seibert Stadium below. The arena interior is distinguished by a row of south-facing windows.
The building originally opened in 1959 with only the lower levels finished. It was officially dedicated on October 20, 1961 following completion of its 4,240-seat main gym, made possible with a major contribution from F. Page Seibert.
Samford's men's basketball team used Seibert Hall as its home court until moving to the Corts Arena in the Pete Hanna Center in 2007. The gym has been used as a venue for graduation exercises, and remained in use for recreation.
In 2023 Samford announced a $65 million upgrade to campus recreation facilities, including a major renovation of Seibert Hall to add workout rooms, fitness classrooms, e-sports and dance studios, and gathering areas including a coffee shop and 24-hour convenience store. The facility would be complemented by an adjoining 20,000 square-foot building with more basketball and indoor track and event facilities along with covered outdoor areas. Davis Architects prepared the renovation plans, which were carried out by Hoar Construction with a planned opening in 2024.
References
- "Dedication program of the F. Page Seibert Hall and Stadium" (October 20, 1961) Samford University Library, Special Collection Department - accessed June 21, 2023
- Poole, Phillip (March 7, 2007) "Trustees Finalize Names for New Facility" Samford News via archive.org - accessed June 21, 2023
- Thrailkill, Laurel (April 28, 2023) "Samford begins building $65M recreation, athletic complex." Birmingham Business Journal
External links
- Seibert Hall, 1975 photograph at digitalcollections.samford.edu