CAMPUS

CAMPUS ARCHITECTURE

VINCENT PACIFICO

clark University Campus

As we roll into the month of September, the summer slowly comes to an end and the feeling of going back to school is in the air. For most, it’s the excitement of reconnecting with friends, getting back out of the house and doing something new. For some like myself, it was accompanied by the dread of opening up the books again. Each year of school is like a new adventure filled with different opportunities, with new friends, classrooms and buildings. Worcester is home to eight unique college and university campuses, each having their own unique features and architectural styles. Most of the local campuses were built over time and they feature a mix of architectural styles from different eras. It’s not uncommon to see a gothic style academic building sitting next to a contemporary looking residence hall.

Campuses come in all styles and sizes and Worcester has many different examples to offer. When you envision a college campus, you often think of the picturesque scene of large brick buildings, covered in ivy, and a quadrangle in the center with students on their way to and from classes or relaxing on the lawn with friends. Quite a few of Worcester’s campuses do look like this or at least have aspects of the traditional classic look, but the city is also home to a few contemporary campuses as well. Greek Revival, Second Empire, Colonial Revival and Gothic and just a few of the styles you can find in and around Worcester university buildings. As the number of students increase and the demand for new residence halls, classrooms and facilities are needed, new buildings are being built to offer a modern academic experience.

Holy Cross is one of the oldest schools in the country dating back to 1843 when it was established. Situated on the edge of a hill side known as Mount Saint James, this entire campus is built on a steep topography giving it a stunning presentation as you enter the front gates. A picturesque campus if there ever was one. You can see brick buildings positioned into the hill side as you meander your way up large staircases from residence halls to classrooms. One of the most notable buildings on the campus, Fenwick Hall, is the school’s admissions building and concert hall. Originally built in 1843, expanded in 1867 by prominent architect, Elbridge Boyden, and enlarged again in 1875 by architect Patrick W. Ford. The building features Second Empire and Collegiate Gothic architecture styles throughout. This brick masterpiece features symmetrical towers, mansard slate roofs and a Colonial Revival porch. It’s a perfect reflection of what a classic university building is thought to look like and it’s a spot that students often take graduation photos in front of.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute was one of the country’s first engineering Universities. The school’s first building, Boyton Hall, was named after John Boyton who founded the school in 1865. Designed by architect Stephen Earle, the building features a main clocktower, is built of a beautiful stone construction and is designed in the Gothic Collegiate style. The building currently houses WPI’s administrative offices and has iivy growing up the walls, adding to the curb appeal of the picturesque campus. A typical characteristic that can be seen in a Gothic style are pointed arched windows which can be seen across this building’s facade. A true masterpiece that can be seen as you drive up the main road just to the side of Earle Bridge.

As we explore traditional college campuses, a much more urban example is Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, located right in the heart of Downtown Worcester. The campus is spread throughout a cluster of buildings, but one of their main buildings is the Thomas Henry Borysek Living and Learning Center located on Foster Street. This building is quite different from the traditional stone and brick buildings as it features an all in one campus “hub” for many students. The academic classrooms and administrative offices are located on the lower levels and the residence halls are located on the upper levels making for an extremely convenient location for students to spend their time in. The building features an early modernism architectural style, was originally constructed in 1900 and went under a major renovation in 2000 to create the campus facility.

When discussing college and university life, we can’t forget to mention fraternity and sorority houses. Worcester is home to quite a few Greek life chapters throughout the city. These chapters have taken over houses around the city, some of which are notable works of architecture. The Phi Kappa Theta House which is a WPI fraternity house is a good example of Victorian architecture in a residential neighborhood. Many local Greek life houses have similar styles, sizes and details These houses were once single family homes of the wealthy, and are now home to dozens of students.

Whether you’re on your way back to school, starting college as a freshman or just simply taking a stroll through a local campus, stop and look at some of the buildings and see if you can pick out the styles. Worcester universities have numerous different architectural styles and each and every one of them offer a unique look and feel to them. Many older buildings you’ll see around campuses are not of one single style, but oftentimes layers of different styles of additions and renovations over the years. It can be tough but quite fun to try and identify them so it’s important to brush up on your architectural history when you’re on your way to class this semester.

College of Holy Cross Campus

Kimball Hall in College of the Holy Cross