The Slater-Armstrong Memorial Trades’ Building was designed by architect Robert R. Taylor in 1900. It was completed for a total cost of $36,000. Booker T. Washington wrote of the building, “Better lighted rooms could scarcely be found in any building.” (The Story of My Life, 1901) The building housed vocational training areas for male students and was known as the boys’ trades building. It was destroyed by fire on October 14th, 1918.