By Kevin ReichThe Daily Northwestern
When a high school student walks through the nation’s great universities, he is often moved by aesthetics. Some of America’s best architecture is seen at its educational institutions: collegiate gothic, aptly named, and colonial architecture, staples at East Coast universities. Architectural grandeur often reflects the scholarly ambitions of a leading university. High school students often apply to colleges under a spell of beauty.
The Ivies, arguably America’s best schools, maintain a strong relationship with a traditional dedication to design. Northwestern has not.
The pre-Lakefill campus is stunning. When University Hall was built, the NU architectural scene showed promise. A later addition of Deering Library, built in this world-renowned collegiate gothic style, became the exemplar for later campus projects. NU might have been beautiful.
Then came the Lakefill, and its subsequent atrocious projects. University Library was connected to Deering and NU architectural history was lost to posterity. Deering is less conspicuous in comparison to the more imposing new library. So came NU’s architectural ode to area high schools.
Windowless sandblasted concrete buildings sprouted on the new land, completely disregarding the Lake. East Coast and West Coast students criticize NU by saying they “miss the beach,” failing to realize that it’s one of the only schools actually on the water. In a bizarre twist of fate, a parking lot was built on the southern end of the Lakefill, offering the campus its best views of Chicago.
Architect Frank Gehry notes that there needn’t be a distinction between art and architecture. Art is subjective, I know that. But the newer campus reflects Princeton Review’s embarrassing criticism of NU: we’re too pre-professional. The adopted architecture is congruous with our supposed dedication to the corporate. Architecture is reflective of education. We like big (and cheap!) architecture firms.
Form is lost to function.
Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, recently learned the value of architecture with a plan meant to ultimately modernize the city. An ambitious proposal includes building designs by architects like Frank Gehry, Jean Nouvel and Zaha Hadid. Officials realized that architecture is a proponent for cultural transformation.
NU should invest in architecture. Design is academic. Though any expensive endeavor will often be met with criticism, architecture is meant to be controversial. When a design by Maya Lin, a student at Yale’s undergraduate Architectural Studies program – something we should undoubtedly have – was chosen for the Vietnam War Memorial, critics nearly stopped the project. Today, it is often hailed as America’s greatest.
On a tour of NU, a student should be moved by its buildings. Architecture makes you think. Building should echo the university’s regard for education. Style is an element of learning, as art is a proponent for change.
Communication junior Kevin Reich can be reached at [email protected].
