Image courtesy of SCAD Atlanta
Ivy Hall, SCAD Atlanta’s writing building, has a unique history, from being a family residence to a restaurant to a place of learning. The red brick building on Ponce de Leon Avenue looks like something from a storybook, and the building got its own happily ever after.
Dr. Catherine Ramsdell, writing professor at SCAD Atlanta, says “The house was built in 1883 for Edward Peters, and the house was known as the Edward C. Peters House.” The house was passed on to the Peters’ son, Wimberly, and his wife, Lucille. Wimberly passed away in the 1940s but Lucille continued to live in the house until 1970. The Piedmont home was converted into the Mansion Restaurant in 1973, but it was badly damaged in a kitchen fire. The building was left vacant until 2007 when SCAD came into possession of the property.
The historic preservation department and the interior design department were invaluable in the restoration of Ivy Hall, but there was much interdepartmental cooperation. For instance, Dr. Ramsdell says, “All the artwork … was created by students, faculty or staff. Several of the paintings are from an M.F.A. thesis project — the student decided to create a series of paintings depicting life at the Peters House in the 1880s.” After the restoration was complete, the building was turned into SCAD Atlanta’s official writing building, set apart from Main Campus.
Ivy Hall has become SCAD’s own little slice of history, and on any given day one can find students sitting out on the front porch enjoying the fresh air. With its calm, peaceful atmosphere, the building has become a haven for any student taking a writing class. Nicole Seidner, second-year writing major, says “It’s a pretty building to be in, it’s inspiring, I suppose. Because it was once a home, it has a homey feel to it and that makes it easier to work in.” Victoria Lum Kang, fourth-year photography major, says, “For me it’s how rustic the building is. It’s a lot calmer, you feel like you can think here. You don’t have all the distractions like technology. I like how it was a house at first, and how homey it is. I like how many windows there are … you don’t feel trapped.”
Once a family’s home, then a restaurant in Midtown, the writing center at Ivy Hall certainly has a compelling history and plenty of character. The calm atmosphere promotes creativity and inspiration for writing majors and non-writing majors alike.
