History of Kerckhoff Hall

Kerckhoff Hall has become a central part of the UCLA campus since it opened its doors on Jan. 20, 1931. Nowadays, students visit Kerckhoff Hall to grab a cup of coffee at Kerckhoff Coffeehouse, study in the second and third floor study lounges, or work in one of the many student organizations based in Kerckhoff Hall. However, students may not know the history behind this iconic building.

Keep reading for more about the history of Kerckhoff Hall. 

The construction of Kerckhoff Hall was funded by a gift from a single donor. According to the UCLA Alumni website, Louise Kerckhoff gifted $715,000 to the university to honor her late husband, William G. Kerckhoff, who asked her to carry out his intentions to provide funds for a student union. That’s over $13 million in today’s dollars!

As if she hadn’t already donated a small fortune to UCLA, Louise Kerckhoff gave an additional $100,000 to fully furnish the new facility, bringing her total donation up to $815,000. According to the UCLA Alumni website, she visited the construction site almost daily to ensure that Kerckhoff Hall was built with nothing but the best workmanship and materials for the betterment of Bruins.

Kerckhoff Hall was not just built as a student union building, but as a way to honor the memory of William G. Kerckhoff. Details of his life are woven into the building’s decor; according to the UCLA Alumni website, the stained glass images of a redwood tree and a dam on the fourth floor are references to his career in lumber and his contributions to the development of hydroelectric power. 

Kerckhoff Hall is still run by ASUCLA as the Bruins’ student union building, as it was back in 1931. Today, the iconic building houses a cafe, study halls, an art gallery, numerous student organizations and much more, carrying on almost a century of history serving the UCLA community.