The largest hub for classes was once considered for sorority housing. It was around 1972, when Wichita state officials were finalizing plans to break ground on new buildings; that the decision was made to add a large liberal arts and sciences. Greek life was relocated to 17th Street. Lindquist Hall got its name about 20 years later.

Lindquist Hall on Wichita State’s main campus serves as a magnet for the largest number of degree programs at the university: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

It used to be simply called the “Liberal Arts and Sciences Building.” Each floor was dedicated to a different field of study within the umbrella of the program — Women’s Studies, Sociology, Psychology and English.

It took contractors nearly five years to finish construction on the six-story Lindquist from the time plans were set to build.

The new liberal arts and sciences building opened its doors in April 1978.

It wasn’t until Oct. 1992 before it was officially renamed “Lindquist Hall” to honor Emory and Irma Lindquist.

Emory Lindquist, who died in Jan. of ‘92, was remembered during opening remarks to the crowd outside Lindquist the day of the ceremony. He was the president of Bethany College, a liberal arts college in Lindsborg, Kan. (1943-1953), a WSU professor (1953-1978) and later became a dean and president at WSU (1963-1968).

He was also an advocate for getting the WSU’s Honors College started.

The program for the 1992 induction said, “Emory K. Lindquist is remembered as a gifted teacher and scholar, as an ardent supporter of the University Honors Program that bears his name, and as the eighth president of the University.”

Irma Lindquist was 97 when she died in 2007.

Construction was completed last year to update the building and install windows.

Lindquist Hall continues to hold classes for hundreds of students each day.

“It’s pretty much the ‘everything’ building,” senior Stephen Grillot said. “I think pretty much every student has had to go there for one class or another.”