4. New searches in renovation, the american college experience
4.1. American college structures
At the present day, the structure complex used as the Erciyes University Social Facilities site is occurred from 7
buildings and is located in Kayseri's Talas district. The oldest structure of the campus, the dormitory building, was
built in the 19th century and was used as a bond house until it was donated to the American Board foundation in
1889. The other buildings located on the campus were built after the agreement of the American Board Foundation
and were used to meet of accommodation and sleeping needs of students. In the education break given because of
World War I, the buildings were used as orphanage for children who lost their parents during the war and were
returned to the foundation at the end of the war and used as a hospital. The complex continued as a hospital until the
American Hospital was closed in 1972. In 1974 the structure complex was bought by Ankara Hacettepe University
and transferred to Erciyes University in the same year.
With the feature of being the oldest structure on the campus, the dormitory building also gives an example of the
traditional residences of the area. The structure, with its cross-like plan scheme, with additions on its left and right
sides has a 480 m2 area of usage. Unique components like the stones used in the exterior, the windows and top
windows which form the façade, the wooden and stone ornaments in the structure, the dices, the marble basins and
the 2 different caves which are entered from the basement are forming the characteristic features of the structure.