John B. Stephenson Hall was renamed in 2013 to honor Berea’s seventh president, John B. Stephenson. It consists of two buildings, formerly known as Bruce and Trades, joined together by a four-story metal and glass structure called The Connector.
Currently, Stephenson Hall is home to two of Berea’s Centers and two Student-Success Offices:
- The Center for Learning Through Service (CELTS)
- The Loyal Jones Appalachian Center (LJAC)
- The Office of Internships and Career Development (ICD)
- The Office of Student Success & Transition (including the Bridge and Emerging Scholars Programs)
And many of Berea’s direct service and outreach programs:
- CELTS student-led direct service programs
- Bonner Scholars
- Brushy Fork Leadership Institute
- Entrepreneurship for the Public Good (EPG)
- Appalachian Review Magazine
South Side – Originally the Bruce Building
The south side of the building was built in three sections. The back half was built in 1903 as the “Woodworking Annex” of the Men’s Industrial Building (now named Edwards). It also housed a machine shop and shoe repair shop. The front half, formerly the Bruce Building, was built in 1907 to house the Berea College Print Shop. The building was a gift of Matilda Bruce and named for her father George Bruce, an innovator in the printing industry. Around 1920, the front and back halves were connected with a brick addition. The combined structure carried on the name of the Bruce Building. In addition to the Print Shop, it housed the Woodworking Department and Woodcraft until 1981, the crafts marketing and shipping department from 1981 to 1998, and Broomcraft from 1997-98. Like many campus buildings it once had a seasonal winter residence hall on the third floor.
North Side – Originally the Trades Building
The north side of the building consists of a central structure with several additions. It is possible that parts of the lower west end date from 1903, first serving as a blacksmith shop. The building we see today was built ca.1910 as an expanded blacksmith shop, an additional woodworking facility, and a printing office. It was originally named the Trades Building. In 1925 the bakery moved in. It grew from a small student enterprise into a regional commercial bakery. The Trades Building was renovated in 1936 as a state-of-the-art commercial baking facility. In 1939 the Candy Kitchen began to occupy an upper floor. The Candy kitchen closed in 1970 and the bakery closed in 1975. From the late 1970s into the 1990s it housed the college’s ground breaking “Students for Appalachia” program.
Middle Section – The Connector
Both Bruce and Trades buildings were renovated and joined together into one building during 1999 to 2002. From 2000 until 2013 it was known as Bruce-Trades building. The Connector was built in 2001. It is common space serving all of the departments in Stephenson Hall and offers lounge and kitchen facilities.