Designed by Jackson architect W.D. Hull, Ayer Hall was originally a four-story
Colonial Revival building, raised above a full basement, with a hipped and
gabled roof. A center pedimented pavilion emphasized the building's front
approach and a small wooden porch was placed before the front porch entrance.
Over the years, practical considerations have forced several alterations in
Ayer Hall. In 1938, a fire severely damaged the structure resulting in the
removal of the fourth story and its replacement with a flat roof. The entrance
porch was enclosed on the first and ground floor levels and stairs were installed
in the enclosure. A south wing was built in 1940 to accomodate baths and additional
stairways and, in 1972, a major interior alteration were performed when the
women's living quarters on the first floor were remodeled and used for offices.
The red brick exterior of the building was then painted white.
