ARCHITECTURE AT PENN

The experience of walking down Locust Walk is like that of a time-traveler wandering through eras of architecture – from gothic-style libraries to modern glass-paneled study spaces, each building is thoughtfully designed and unique to its own history.

The most easily-recognized and representative buildings on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania are also its most historical, including iconic structures such as College Hall, Houston Hall, and the Quadrangle. Informally known as the Quad, the first student dormitory of the university was built from the late 19th century to the early 20th century and continues to be called home by 1500 freshmen each year. This distinctive complex of residence houses, along with many other characteristic buildings of the university, was the brainchild of architects Walter Cope and John Stewardson. However, as the original architects passed away before most any construction began, the large architecture firm under their names Cope and Stewardson took on this project. Under inspiration from Cambridge University, the architects designed the Quadrangle to be erected from brick rather than stone. The external details of the dormitory speak to a transition from medieval to renaissance, with crockets and gothic towers rising into the sky intermixed with classical pediments and Palladian arches from the Italian Renaissance. These varying styles along with contemporary rectangular windows spaced evenly across the Quadrangle’s walls make it evident that Cope and Stewardson did not limit themselves to a singular style. This multifaceted form of expression can be further examined through elements of the other buildings the architectural firm took on across campus, namely the Towne Building, Fisher - Bennett Hall, and the Law School.

As one of the major libraries on campus, Fisher Fine Arts Library is often said to offer a Hogwarts studying experience. The ingenious building is as magical as it seems. Designed by architect Frank Furness and officially opening in 1890 as the first library on campus, the library continues to live up to its purposes of appreciating and storing books. One wing of the structure is dedicated to a reading room, and the other is essentially a mammoth multi-story steel bookcase where the library’s collection is safely kept. The library’s exterior is in sync with the interior’s innovative design; its visual effect is stunning and cannot be confined.

WORDS CINDY SU

Standing strikingly red, Fisher is constructed from sandstone, brick, and terracotta. Its large round arches are distinctively romanesque, yet gargoyles protruding from the building’s sides are reminiscent of Gothic styles. Whether in form, function, or content, Fisher Fine Arts Library is a work of its own time. Like many of my peers, to me entering Fisher induces the feeling of cozying up and engaging in a good book more than anything else. Sitting inside this masterpiece of architecture that embodies an engine of thought, the nonconformity of its nature encourages scholars to think beyond our greatest dreams.

Buildings constructed later in time bring the university together through function-driven designs. Huntsman Hall, designed by A. Eugene Kohn, constructed in 2002, serves as the center of Wharton life. Donning the same red tone as Fisher Library, Huntsman prides itself on integrating into Penn’s historical architecture while renovating for the future. Its circular form conveys the message of stability , grandiosity and collaboration – values engarained in the corporate world. Hill College house, designed by architect Eero Saarinen and built in 1960, has the unique appearance of a fortress, moat and all. This protective tower encourages Hill residents to form their own thriving community within the building, connecting with each other and fostering affectionate friendships unlike any other dorm. Finally, the Towne Building, also constructed by Cope and Stewardson and completed in 1906, is symbolic of its purpose as a center for engineering with lecture halls, classrooms, and labs lined across long hallways.

As Frank Gehry said, “architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” The imaginative buildings that constitute the University of Pennsylvania embody exactly this. Each structure’s characteristics are representative of its particular moment in history, yet together they transcend time and uphold the memory of one of the oldest educational institutions in America for generations to come.