Berry Hall, a 7,140-square-foot facility, was built in 1939 as an Engineering Experiment Station building. The trustees named it for Harry S. Berry, who was the administrator for Tennessee of the federal Work Progress Administration (WPA). Berry greatly assisted the university in efforts to tap resources of the WPA for campus projects. WPA funds could be used for labor costs of construction and improvement projects but not for the cost of materials. The materials for the construction of Berry Hall were provided by UT Athletic Association funds.
When Berry Hall was built, the roof was designed to hold two inches of water to provide a cooling effect for the eight-inch-thick concrete roof. An overflow pipe was installed in the center of the roof, and a valve was placed on the side of the building that could be opened to control the level of the water. Birds were apparently responsible for bringing to the roof the wide collection of plant life, which characterized the rooftop for many years. Spectators in Neyland Stadium also added to the rooftop display by throwing coins from the upper seats of the stadium.