Many senior York students would argue that Vari Hall is the center or "hub" of Keele Campus. It is the building that many newcomers to York envision (from posters and advertisements the university publishes) when they think of Keele Campus and the buildings associated with it. Vari Hall, which is primarily an area devoted to housing lecture halls for all subjects, was designed by Raymond Moriyama and constructed in the early 1990s. The building was named after George and Helen Vari, Hungarian refugees and businesspersons who helped to finance the building. Vari Hall has become, arguably, one of the most popular sites on campus. Many today gather to socialize with friends and colleagues, grab a bite to eat at one of the many food vendors and it is also a common protest site. In addition, entering Vari Hall is a excellent gateway leading to many other key areas on campus such as the Religious Centre, Scott library, LAPS Academic Advising, the Ross Building and many more!
However, did you know that before Vari Hall existed, there was once a ramp connected to the Ross Building in place of it? This ramp was later demolished by 1989 during the building of Vari Hall. A piece of the once existing ramp can actually be found in the Clara Thomas Archives here on campus. This once existent ramp can be seen in the image above, which is an example of re-photography and showcases the ramp overtop of the now present Vari Hall which took its place.
Read more about the Ross Ramp here!
