Crane and Hill residency halls were opened in 1962. Crane initially began as a 400 person men’s dormitory, boasting the luxury of personal telephones. Hill played host to the relatively innovative idea of mixed sex residential living, with men occupying the bottom three floors and women residing on the top three. In 1966, however, the dorm would resume full male residency again as girls moved out to Downey Hall.

Both residency halls mirror each other, as depicted in the aerial plan below, presenting the same mid-century modern features. One can note the flat roofed, modular construction, with its earthy color palette – most clearly demonstrated by the tinted spandrel panels. Each with its own sizable parking lot, both halls are decorated with in-built planters and encapsulate Crane-Hill Dining Hall and a green landscaped garden. Almost transparent breezeways, with tinted glass windows, link to the dormitories to the cafeteria. A coursed ashlar pattern stone design highlights the lower floors and end façades. Decorative geometric breeze blocks can also be found in use at the ends of the both buildings. Exposed concrete, aluminum window frames, and covered entrances with aluminum awnings, all adhere to the mid-century style.  One can further note the typical vertical entrance design, which contrasts the characteristically horizontal building. 

Crane-Hill Dining Hall, constructed in 1961, served as the prime cafeteria to its flanking residency halls. In 1966 however, due to an unpredicted decline in on campus living, the cafeteria was closed. Today the structure still continues to be used by the University of Wyoming as an events hall.

            Crane-Hill Dining Hall is a spectacular example of institutional mid-century modern architecture. The structure hosts both flat and folded plate roof designs, with a deep front roof overhang and perimeter eaves. Large windows occupy the majority of the front wall space, allowing natural light in and views of the landscaped garden without. The entrance too mimics these aesthetic features. Muted color window tints, aluminum frames, and natural stone patterning all compliment the surrounding mid-century residential structures. It is interesting to note the incorporation of University of Wyoming sandstone, which is so typical of the campus’s older structures, in this modern design. A large forecourt promotes the entrance, whilst also blending the contrast between the structure and the outer gardens. Notice that the original forecourt planter boxes have been removed.

The college of education building, designed by Porter and Bradley of Cheyenne and constructed in 1949, included not only laboratories and classrooms but also a kindergarten, modern clinical facilities, an auditorium and gymnasium. The structure’s classrooms also boasted the inclusion of the then seemingly modern green chalkboard.

            Architecturally the building was designed with a low, wide profile. The flat roofs, modular design, coursed ashlar stonework, and exposed concrete, all maintain the mid-century modern aesthetic. Incorporated planter boxes help soften the entrances, while a large green front lawn area creates a leisurely atmosphere. The classroom wing’s ribbon windows, with their incorporated glass blocks, metal shade awnings, and ceiling level height, most clearly reflect the period’s modern design characteristics. Indeed the juxtaposition of a vertical entrance way with a characteristically horizontal building was also typical of the time. Smaller side entrances can also be found to host stone privacy walls.

            As demonstrated in the 1949 year book picture, the structure has an almost symmetrical, classical-plan central portion, which contains the auditorium, offices and classrooms. One can note the quintessential post World War II classroom building extending to the east, and the gymnasium behind.  The bas relief sculpture on the façade was designed by Robert Russin and the curve of the entry provides the contrasting forms that are so typical of mid-century modern design.