At the start of the 20th century, the two major needs of the Kansas State University campus were a livestock pavilion and a gymnasium.

Nichols Hall was one of the first buildings in the United States to be built using continuously poured concrete flooring.

The initial broadcast power of the station was 10 watts, a level barely sufficient to cover the city of Manhattan.

The fire started when an arsonist stacked wooden tables against the front doors of the building, poured gasoline on them, and set them ablaze.

By an odd coincidence, the music director, Phil Hewett, happened to have the "Wabash Cannonball" in his briefcase the night of the fire.

The building was completely destroyed, except for the stout stone walls which remained standing empty for more than a decade after the fire.

In the Spring of 1979, University President Duane C. Acker announced that he intended to raze the remnants and build a parking lot in its place.

The reconstructed building features a glass topped atrium and contains a modern theater, classrooms, and offices.

The east wall of the atrium contains a large mural commissioned by Eric Bransby titled Student Achievement.

The department's main office is located in the building, as well as a number of classrooms, dance studios, and the Mark A. Chapman Theatre.