MacKay Hall (or the "Domestic Technology Building" as it was originally named) opened in 1911 to house the College of Family and Consumer Sciences (formerly "Home Economics"). In 1926 a new addition including an east wing identical to the original building and a new central section were opened, more than doubling the size of the original building.

It is interesting to note that the original building was not constructed parallel to Osborne Drive (to the north) because it was designed to be connected to Margaret Hall to its south. Margaret Hall was destroyed by fire before those plans were carried out, however. To make the building look symmetrical to the street, the new central section was built parallel to Osborne Drive and the east wing was built at a slight angle to make it symmetrical with the west wing and the street.

In 1957 the building was named MacKay Hall in honor of the long-time dean of Family and Consumer Sciences, Catherine J. MacKay.