Johnston Hall, Alumni Center hosts open house

Alumni had their first chance to see the renovated Johnston Hall on South Campus Friday, Sept. 16, which includes Elon's new Alumni Center. Details...

Johnston Hall was renovated over the summer to provide office space for Institutional Advancement staff, including the office of alumni relations. The first floor of Johnston Hall includes a large meeting room, two smaller meeting rooms and Alumni Hall, which will serve as a meeting and gathering place for alumni whenever they return to campus.

Alumni Hall has ample room for guests to look through copies of old Elon yearbooks, which are on display. Cindy Sarwi ’87, director of alumni relations, said Alumni Hall will soon be equipped with computer terminals and other amenities, as well as Elon memorabilia.

Johnston Hall is located on South Campus, approximately 75 acres of land that the university purchased from Elon Homes for Children in 2003. Johnston Hall, Harden Club House and Holt Chapel have been renovated for use by Elon students.

The open house was especially meaningful to the Rev. Wally Snyder ’45, president emeritus of Elon Homes for Children. Snyder, who was executive director of Elon Homes from 1960 to 1990, said he’s pleased that the university has renovated Johnston Hall and the other facilities.

“I’m so pleased to see that it is being used for a good purpose and that young people are able to enjoy it,” Snyder said.

Johnston Hall was built in 1926 in honor of Charles David Johnston, superintendent of the Christian Orphanage. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.