Patten Gymnasium is a multi-purpose gymnasium in Evanston, Illinois. The original building, designed by George Washington Maher, opened in 1910 and was home to the Northwestern University Wildcats Basketball Team until 1940, when it was demolished and rebuilt farther north to make room for the construction of the Technological Institute. It was used for 12 years before Welsh-Ryan Arena opened in 1952. The current, ivy-lined building has the original doors and statues from the old gym. It currently is the home to the women's fencing team. Patten is the home to the Intramural Sports program. It has offices and locker rooms for the women's lacrosse, field hockey, and men's/women's soccer teams. It is named for James A. Patten, former Evanston mayor, philanthropist, commodities broker and NU b