If you walk past the concrete facade of Young Hall on a Tuesday morning, you'll probably just see a crowd of tired undergrads nursing iced coffees and trying to find a seat in room 198. It looks like a standard piece of university infrastructure. Functional. A bit gray. Maybe a little intimidating if you're a freshman.
But honestly? Young Hall is weird.
Most people think it’s just the place where you go to get a degree in Psychology or Anthropology. That’s true now, sure. But the walls of this building have seen everything from secret World War II research to rumors of radioactive basements. It isn’t just a classroom building; it’s a living timeline of how UC Davis went from a tiny farm school to a global research powerhouse.
The Manhattan Project and the Basement Rumors
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—or rather, the uranium in the basement.
Young Hall was completed in 1941. Originally, it wasn't named after anyone; it was just "Physical Sciences I." It was built to house chemistry, and the timing was... interesting. By 1942, the U.S. was deep into World War II, and the Manhattan Project was looking for places to conduct high-stakes research.
UC Davis was basically the perfect spot.
It’s a factual part of campus history that Young Hall hosted early experiments related to enriching uranium. There’s a lot of campus lore about "radioactive floors" and the EPA monitoring the basement. While some of that gets exaggerated in late-night dorm room chats, the core is true: parts of the basement were indeed used for nuclear research. Some areas were eventually filled with concrete to seal everything off safely.
So, if you’ve ever felt a weird vibe while looking for a professor’s office in the lower levels, you aren’t just imagining things. You’re standing on top of a literal piece of nuclear history.
Why 198 Young Hall is a Campus Icon
If you’ve spent any time at UC Davis, you know 198 Young. It’s one of the largest lecture halls on campus, seating nearly 300 people.
It’s iconic for a few reasons:
- The Periodic Table: There’s a massive periodic table on the wall that has seen better days. Look closely at the "O" elements; generations of bored students have graffitied them into "SOS" signals.
- The Sleep Factor: There is something about the lighting and the acoustics in 198 that makes it the ultimate nap destination. It’s a rite of passage.
- The Filmmakers: It’s not just for Psych 101. Student groups like Filmmakers’ Ambitions have used the space for years because, frankly, when the lights go down, it’s basically a movie theater.
Herbert A. Young: The Man Behind the Name
The building didn’t get its current name until 1967. It was named for Herbert A. Young, a name you should probably know if you want to sound like a campus expert.
Young wasn't just a random donor. He was a Professor of Chemistry and, more importantly, the very first Dean of the College of Letters and Science. He was the guy who pushed for Davis to be more than just an "ag school." He wanted a place where the arts, social sciences, and "hard" sciences could coexist.
Naming this specific building after him was a huge symbolic move. It represented the shift from a vocational farm school to a comprehensive university.
Modern Day: Psychology, Anthropology, and Seismic Stress
Today, the building is the nerve center for the Department of Psychology and the Department of Anthropology. If you’re a student in the Yellow Cluster, this is your home base.
But it’s also undergoing a bit of a mid-life crisis.
As of 2026, Young Hall is one of several buildings (along with Voorhies and the "Death Star" Social Sciences building) undergoing major seismic renovations. The UC system doesn't mess around with earthquake safety. These upgrades aren't just about sticking some extra rebar in the walls; they’re full-scale overhauls.
We're talking:
- New elevators (thank goodness, because the old ones were... a choice).
- Updated HVAC systems so you don't freeze in the winter and melt in the summer.
- ADA accessibility improvements to make sure everyone can actually get to class.
It’s a bit of a mess right now with the construction fences, but the goal is to keep this 80-year-old concrete giant standing for another century.
Real Advice for Navigating Young Hall
If you have a class here, don't just show up five minutes before. The layout is a bit of a maze, especially if you're trying to find a specific lab or faculty office in the wings.
- Check the basement first: If you’re looking for the labs, they’re often tucked away downstairs.
- The Quad Advantage: One of the best things about Young Hall is its location. It’s right on the East Quad. When you finish a grueling midterm in 198, you can walk outside and immediately collapse on the grass.
- Watch the construction: Until the renovations wrap up in late 2026, entrances might shift. Give yourself an extra ten minutes so you aren't that person walking into a 300-person lecture late.
Young Hall sort of perfectly captures the Davis vibe. It’s a mix of world-altering history (the Manhattan Project), academic rigor (Psych and Anthro), and the slightly chaotic, sleepy energy of thousands of students just trying to pass their exams.
Check the UC Davis Design and Construction Management (DCM) website for the latest on which entrances are open during the seismic retrofit. If you're a student, make sure to visit the Psychology Department's main office in Room 101 early in the quarter if you need help with major requirements, as the advising staff there is the best resource for navigating the program's complexities.
