Patten Gymnasium
2407 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208
Patten Gymnasium is a historic, multi-purpose facility located on Northwestern's main campus and is the current home of the women's fencing program. It is one of the best fencing-only facilities in the country. The original building opened in 1910 and was home to the basketball team until 1940, when it was demolished to make room for the construction of the Technological Institute and rebuilt farther north at its current location on the corner of Sheridan and Lincoln.
It was used for basketball for twelve years before Welsh-Ryan Arena opened in 1952. The current, ivy-lined building has the original doors and statues from the old gym. It currently is the home to the women's fencing team, and in 2011 the lobby was named in honor of longtime fencing coach Laurie Schiller. The building was renovated in the fall of 2019.
The facility is named for James A. Patten, former Evanston mayor, philanthropist, commodities broker, and NU Board of Trustees president.