Lagomarcino Hall

Pictured in 1912, 1923 and 2017.

In the archive photo from 1912, the Quadrangle is pictured from the southeast shortly after construction.

In the current photo, the roads have been paved, foliage has grown and vehicles are present.

In the archive photo from 1923, students are standing in front of the door.

In the modern photo, students are not standing in front of the door. Plants are growing, and there is a partially obscured sign that has been added which reads “Lagomarcino Hall.”

The southern entrance to the Quadrangle in 1923 and 2017. In the modern photo, handrails have been added and more plants are growing.

Construction for Lagomarcino Hall began in 1911 and ended in 1912, although the contract was awarded in 1910. The building was originally housed by the College of Veterinary Medicine, and was called the Veterinary Quadrangle.

The name was later shortened to the Quadrangle when Veterinary Medicine relocated in 1975.

There have been several renovations to the building. In 1929 a temporary structure was built to the north, but it was demolished in 1954.

In 1938, Christian Petersen created a mural as well as the statue “Gentle Doctor.” Through 1975-1976, these were moved to the College of Veterinary Medicine’s current location, and the building was remodeled further. An addition to the southeast was added between 1960-1962.

The north end of the building was renovated in 2015.

The building was named after Virgil S. Lagomarcino in 1986.

Lagomarcino was born March 23, 1921 in Plainfield, Iowa. He graduated from Waverly High School in 1939. In 1943 he earned his B.A in political science from Coe College, and then attended Drake University until 1949, when he earned his M.S. in education administration. In 1955 he earned his Ph.D in education from Iowa State College.

He married Neva Dorothy Baird of Waverly, Iowa in 1944.

Lagomarcino taught high school from 1944-1945, and served as superintendent of Keystone Consolidated Schools from 1945-1949, and later Anamosa schools from 1949-1951.

He was named director of curriculum and supervision and director of public junior colleges for the Iowa Department of Public Instruction as a graduate student in 1954.

After his graduation, he joined faculty as a professor at Iowa State. He became the first dean of the College of Education after its formation in 1968.

He served as dean until his retirement in 1990.

Lagomarcino died July 21, 2009.