Jordan Hall, built in 1955, was named in honor of scientist David Starr Jordan (1851-1931), IU's seventh president. The building received a facelift in 1984 with the addition of a new wing that increased space by 33 percent and provided five new greenhouses, a 175-seat lecture hall, and numerous laboratories and offices.

The first floor greenhouses contain many species of plants from around the world. Visitors enjoy wandering through the greenhouses, and art students are often found sketching the plants. The greenhouses are open to the public, tours are available upon request, and there is no admission charge. Contact the greenhouse staff for more information.

A two-story atrium also accompanied the Jordan Hall addition and became the new front entrance for the building. The atrium serves as a focal point for Jordan Hall. Benches line the sides where students study and wait for classes to start. Other students grab lunch at the kiosk or check their e-mail at the computer stations.

Visitors watch lizards in the vivarium and look at the display cases in this area. They stop to admire William Zimmerman's bird paintings and Rudy Pozzatti's large oil painting, Phases of Biology, that was commmissioned specifically for the Jordan Hall atrium.

The atrium also serves as a gathering place for the department. Students, staff, and faculty attend annual award ceremonies, receptions, poster presentations, and other departmental events in the atrium throughout the year. In warm weather, faculty, staff, and students often sit outside the atrium to enjoy their lunch and to see what animals and insects are visiting the Prairie in the Planters.