Facilities

History

Alice Shevlin Hall was constructed in 1906 on the site of Old Main, the first building on campus. Old Main was built in 1885 and was destroyed by fire in 1904. The construction was made possible by a donation of $60,000 by Thomas Shevlin in honor of his wife. The building was executed in the Renaissance Revival mode according to designs by Minneapolis architect Ernest Kennedy.

Shevlin Hall opened in December 1905 as a building designed to house women's groups. Soon after Shevlin Hall opened in 1906, men at the University began to organize for a place of their own, which led to the creation of the Minnesota Union in 1908.

Shevlin Hall is a contributing building to the University's Old Campus Historic District, which is designated by the National Register of Historic Places.

Current

Shevlin Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the University of Minnesota Old Campus District. It currently houses the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and the Julia M. Davis Speech-Language-Hearing Center and is equipped with modern classrooms and technology. This clinic is named in honor of Dr. Julia M. Davis, professor emerita.

Shevlin's Unique Spaces

Wellness Room

This space is intended to accommodate quiet reflection, personal prayer, meditation, and relaxation. It includes a bench, rug, yoga mat, and affirmation cards. The room is left unlocked and is available on a first-come first-serve basis. 

Pinky Lounge

The Pinky Lounge is an open-access study area available to all students. Named in honor of Richard “Pinky McNamara. Centrally located outside the main departmental classroom and the TA Workroom, it features a central collaboration table and perimeter seating. It is an ideal spot for quick study sessions between classes. 

Professional Student Workroom

The Professional Student Workroom is a dedicated workspace for MA-SLP and AuD students. This room serves as a central hub for graduate clinical preparation, group study, and independent study. It also houses student mailboxes for departmental correspondence. Students often relax by working on a puzzle together. This room is located close to the Graduate Student Kitchenette. The kitchenette is equipped with a fridge, microwave, and lockers for student use.

PhD Lounge

The PhD lounge is a private workspace and common area for PhD students, featuring dedicated desk workstations and comfortable lounge furniture for rest and collaboration. The room is equipped with a mini-fridge and microwave for PhD students' use.