Although RIT can trace its origins back to the founding of the Rochester Athenaeum in 1829, the modern form of the institution was created in 1891 when the Rochester Athenaeum merged with the newly formed Mechanics Institute (founded 1885). The university started as a way to train individuals for careers in the dominant fields in Rochester, NY's manufacturing industry. As a result, most of the school's first students were local residents. However, as the school began to grow, an increasing number of students came from areas other than the city, creating a need for student housing. In 1968, the campus was relocated from the city of Rochester to the town of Henrietta. High demand for on campus housing continued and several residence halls were built on the new campus. In 1996, architecture and engineering firm Einhorn Yaffee Prescott developed a plan for renovation of the residence halls. Project objectives included code and safety requirements, completion of deferred maintenance (paint, carpet, etc.), and new entrance additions.
From the description of Renovation of Residence Halls presentation summary, 1996. (RIT Library). WorldCat record id: 765366078
