Martin Hall has served many purposes during its time at Meredith. Opening in 1959, it served as the main building for the sciences, including biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as home economics and business. Today, it serves as the home to the human environmental sciences and foreign languages departments.
Built to house the Science, Home Economic, and Business Departments – which had languished in the 1926 “temporary” frame classrooms - Hunter Hall was named after Dr. J. Rufus Hunter, a Raleigh chemist who served on Meredith's Board of Trustees. Dr. Hunter left his entire estate to Meredith, the largest gift from an individual the school had received. Dedication of the building took place during the annual Founder's Day observance on October 30th, 1959.
The 2004 addition of the Science and Math Building (SMB) to the campus allowed the relocation of these disciplines to the updated facilities and Hunter became home to the Departments of Foreign Language and Home Environmental Sciences.
Shortly afterwards, on September 30, 2004, Hunter Hall was renamed Martin Hall, in honor of Margaret Craig Martin, who had a long relationship with Meredith College as student, instructor, and trustee. Along with the new name came renovations for an updated interior which now included a fashion studio, two interior design studios, a child development laboratory and a CAD ("computer aided design') studio. The building's new features were described at it's rededication as "learning spaces that encourage opportunities for collaboration, making connections and meeting challenges."
In 2020-2021, the Nutrition Lab underwent major renovations. The space was demolished and the areas was expanded into an adjacent hallway, for a more open feeling between the classroom and the kitchen. The new and improved lab will aid students acquiring hands-on experience in nutrition education, the food industry, sales, food service management, public policy or health fields. The Nifong Nutrition Laboratory was built according to health department standards necessary to replicate a commercial food service environment. the lab contains a 4-burner induction range, a food warmer, countertop flat grill, a countertop charbroiler, a full-sized hood system, a double convection oven, a Combi-Oven, 6 sinks, 2 dishwashers, 3 6-burner gas ranges, a fryer, 4 wheeled work tables, a large area fro dry storage and a walkin freezer and refrigerator.
Carlyle Campbell Library
Meredith College
3800 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
919-760-8532