Loyola Hall, which now forms the “L” of the LXR Residence Hall, was constructed between October 1926 and March 1928 at the corner of 35th and Prospect Streets, NW for an estimated $300,000. Originally built as a wing of the university hospital, Loyola was known as St. Joseph's Hall before its 1956 renaming.
Georgetown University Hospital
From 1928 to 1947, the building formed a wing of the Georgetown University Hospital and housed offices, patient rooms, clinical facilities and nurses’ quarters. In 1947, after the new hospital opened, the building became St. Joseph’s Hall and served as the Nursing School.
Student housing
In September 1956, when the Nursing School relocated to the newly constructed St. Mary’s Hall, the building transitioned into a student dorm. With this transition, the building received a new name, Loyola Hall, after St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1541. Bill Clinton famously lived in Loyola Hall (Room 225) during the 1965-65 school year.
Renovations
Loyola received several minor renovations over the years including a complete window replacement in 1982, a fire alarm upgrade in 1984, a second floor renovation to house CIPRA (Center for Immigration Policy and Refugee Assistance), and a partial third floor renovation in 1989 to house the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) offices. The CARA offices were relocated from 3700 Oakview Terrace, NE Washington to the University campus to coincide with the nationwide Jesuit Conference in 1989. The agreement was to provide CARA access to the University’s research resources in accordance with the University’s academic mission. During the 1991-92 school year, Loyola housed ROTC, a chaplain's office, Office of Liturgical Music, Center for International Board of Trade, CARA, the Historical Institute, Counseling and Psychiatric Services for students, and the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP).
In 1994, Loyola Hall, along with Xavier Hall and Ryder Hall, was completely renovated for a total of $12.5 million. The three buildings received new plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems in addition to an interior reconfiguration that increased the number of beds from 90 to 280. Connecting bridges were built between the three buildings to create a single building, now known as LXR.1
- 1Francis X. Ballman, "Loyola Hall," Building Outlines Campus Buildings, 1789 – 1995, Father Lawrence Hurley Memorial Edition, Francis X. Ballmann and the Division of Facilities, 1995, p. 55-56.
