Construction crews rebuilding one of Cornell University’s oldest academic buildings are uncovering hidden remnants of the university’s past as a major renovation project transforms historic McGraw Hall from the inside out.
Workers renovating McGraw Hall have discovered signatures carved into stone dating back to 1872, cast iron columns stamped with the names of long-forgotten foundries and handwritten markings from Cornell shop employees embedded within original millwork, according to university officials.
The renovation, which began in 2025 and is expected to continue through 2027, involves a complete overhaul of the building’s interior while preserving and stabilizing its historic exterior façade. The building is expected to reopen in 2028.
Officials said the discoveries have also created research and teaching opportunities across campus.
Some of the original lumber removed from the building has been transferred to Cornell University architecture classes in Rand Hall, where students are studying whether the wood can be repurposed into engineered lumber. Additional material has been moved to the university’s Tree Ring Laboratory for hands-on research work.
“We are also saving some architectural elements, such as carved wooden moldings and cast-iron columns, that could be displayed in the entrance of the building in the future,” said Erik Gray, director of facilities for Cornell’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Named after founding Cornell trustee John McGraw, the building opened in 1872 and was designed by architect Archimedes N. Russell. Built from Ithaca stone, McGraw Hall was the first Cornell building to include a tower and has served a wide range of purposes throughout the university’s history.
Over the decades, the building housed the university library, museum collections, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Law School, geology and entomology departments, and later the Department of Government. Today, it houses Cornell’s history and anthropology departments along with the archaeology program.
Project officials described the renovation as unusually complex because nearly the entire interior structure is being replaced while the original stone walls remain standing.
To stabilize the structure, engineers installed extensive shoring systems and used engineered lumber to brace the historic exterior walls without damaging windows or stonework. Workers are also reinforcing portions of the building with steel, concrete and new foundations while preserving select original structural elements in the tower and center wing.
On the exterior, crews are using stainless steel rods and grout to stabilize aging masonry before repointing the walls.
Cornell officials said modern technology, including advanced 3D modeling, has helped engineers navigate inconsistencies common in 19th century construction and avoid delays during the restoration process.
“We’re creating a modern building within this historic building,” Gray said.
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