Historic
Tour > Virtual Tour > Bowen Field House
Bowen Field House
Historical
Name(s): Wilbur P. Bowen Field House
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Bowen
Field House
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Date
constructed: Dedicated December 3,
1955
Architect: Giffels &
Vallet of Detroit
Style
of Architecture: International
Original
Use: Housed Athletics department
and had a seating capacity of 5,400.
Dates
of renovation: 1976: first remodeling.
1982: received a 9,400 square foot addition,
seating capacity expanded to 4,800. In 1986,
a two-story addition was built on the southwest
corner.
Current
Use: Human Resources Offices &
indoor exercise facility
History:
Bowen
was the second field house built on Eastern’s
campus. It was
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Bowen
Field House - A view from behind the
building
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constructed
concurrently with Goddard and Jones Residence
Halls and Pine Grove Apartments during a period
of great growth for the university. Briggs Field
House was simply too small. Bowen Field House
was built as the first stage of a full-scale
physical education facility. Later additions
would include a gymnasium, swimming pool, additional
locker rooms and classrooms (See Warner Gymnasium
and Olds/Rob Student Recreation Center).
Bowen was named for the late Wilbur Pardon Bowen,
a mathematics instructor and first head of the
Department of Physical Education, 1894-1928.
It was he who first established a teacher-training
course in physical education. The 88,000 square
foot building cost $1.25 million to construct.
When it was built, it was one of the largest
in the country including not only basketball,
track, and baseball practice areas, but also
facilities for outdoor activities like tennis
and badminton. It also had indoor classrooms.
There was permanent seating for 1,200 viewers
and theoretically, additional seating capacity
for 6,000. The building also included an 8-laps-to-the-mile
track, a hard surfaced infield, a lounge, and
a physical therapy room.
Bowen Field House saw 351 wins in its 43 years
as the home of Eastern’s basketball team.
Cheering and applause echoed from the steal
beams of the building leading a radio announcer
on WEMU to refer to the building as “The
Old Barn” and the name stuck. Originally
basketball court was located in front of the
balcony and the baskets were at east and west
ends of court. The floor later switched to north/south
direction in 1960.
Bowen has undergone several renovations. In
1976 it had its first face-lift, intended to
increase attendance at major events. In 1982
it received a 9,400 square foot addition, new
lighting, a new track surface, and improved
seating, which expanded seating permanent capacity
to 4,800. In 1986 it was further remodeled and
made handicapped accessible, offices were updated,
a two-story addition was built on the southwest
corner, and the heating and air conditioning
were improved updated.
In the fall
of 1998, the newly constructed Convocation
Center took its place as the home of EMU’s
basketball team. Today Bowen houses the Human
Resources Offices and is still used as an
exercise facility by students and faculty.
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Location
of Bowen Field House (Click on the image
for a bigger view)
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