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Looking south at Central Hall on the Iowa State College campus in approximately 1915. After the destruction of Old Main by fire in 1901, discussions began about a replacement for the main college building. Designed by Des Moines architects Proudfoot & Bird, with general construction by Harry W. Schleuter of Chicago, Illinois, the new building was completed in 1906 and named Central Building. In 1938, the class of 1898 (of which Harry Farwell Brown, father of Farwell T. Brown, was a member) presented the college with a portrait of William M. Beardshear, who had been president of the college when they were students. From 1938, the structure became known as Beardshear Hall.