Navigating the Georgia Tech Campus: A Comprehensive Guide
The Georgia Institute of Technology, a leading technological university, boasts a sprawling and dynamic campus in the heart of Midtown Atlanta. Understanding the layout of this campus is crucial for students, faculty, staff, and visitors alike. This guide provides a detailed overview of the Georgia Tech campus, encompassing its various sections, key buildings, and transportation options.
Campus Overview
The main campus of Georgia Tech occupies a significant portion of Midtown Atlanta. It is primarily bordered by 10th Street to the north, North Avenue to the south, and the Downtown Connector to the east, making it a prominent feature of the Atlanta skyline. The campus is divided into four main areas: West Campus, East Campus, Central Campus, and Technology Square.
Despite its urban setting, the Georgia Tech campus maintains a park-like atmosphere with abundant greenery and relatively low-rise buildings, most of which are no more than four stories tall. This design fosters a pedestrian-friendly environment and encourages interaction among members of the Tech community.
In 1996, the campus played a significant role in the Summer Olympics, serving as the athletes' village and hosting several athletic events. This event left a lasting mark on the campus, with many facilities being upgraded or constructed to accommodate the Games.
Getting to Georgia Tech
Directions
From the North:
Take Exit 249D (North Avenue). At the top of the exit ramp, turn right onto North Avenue. Cross Techwood Drive (the first light) and continue on North Avenue approximately two blocks to Cherry Street. Turn right onto Cherry Street and then turn left onto Ferst Drive.
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From the South:
Take Exit 249D (North Avenue/Spring Street/West Peachtree Street). At the top of the exit ramp, proceed through the first intersection (Spring Street). At the next intersection (West Peachtree), turn left.
Transportation
Georgia Tech offers a variety of free transit options for getting around campus and to nearby destinations.
Campus Divisions
West Campus
West Campus is located on the western side of the Georgia Tech campus. Formerly the location of the Hemphill Avenue neighborhood, Georgia Tech began to expand into this area in 1965. It is primarily composed of apartments and coed undergraduate dormitories.
Key Features:
- Residence Halls: Armstrong Residence Hall, Hefner Residence Hall, and others are located on West Campus. Armstrong Residence Hall is a coed residence hall in the Georgia Tech Freshman Experience and Honors Program, dedicated in name to Arthur H. Armstrong. Armstrong Hall was built in 1969 and last renovated in 2006.
- J. Allen Couch Building: Located on McMillan Street on West Campus, the building serves as the home for the School of Music, a division of the College of Design. Named after Tech alum and prominent Atlanta citizen J.
- One-Way Streets: Due to limited space, all auto travel proceeds via a network of one-way streets which connects West Campus to Hemphill Avenue and Ferst Drive, the main road of the campus.
East Campus
East Campus is situated on the eastern side of the Georgia Tech campus. It houses all of the fraternities and sororities as well as most of the undergraduate freshman dormitories. East Campus abuts the Downtown Connector, granting residences quick access to Midtown and its businesses via several bridges over the highway, as well as a tunnel beneath it.
Key Features:
- Residence Halls: East Campus houses several freshman dormitories, including Glenn Residence Hall and Harris Residence Hall. Glenn is dedicated to William H. Glenn, Tech alumnus. Glenn Hall is a prime location for the Georgia Tech sports fan; it is the closest freshman residence hall to Bobby Dodd Stadium and Alexander Memorial Coliseum, and is right next to the lawn known as the Quad. It is also next to the GT Connector, a newly built study space between Glenn and Towers that also includes a small gym. Harris is dedicated to N.E. Harris and is coed. The hall was built in 1926 and last renovated in 1992.
- Brittain Dining Hall: This is the main dining hall for East Campus. It is modeled after a medieval church, complete with carved columns and stained glass windows showing symbolic figures.
- "Freshman Hill": The main road leading from East Campus to Central Campus is a steep ascending incline commonly known as "Freshman Hill" (in reference to the large number of freshman dorms near its foot).
Central Campus
Central Campus is the heart of the Georgia Tech campus, housing the majority of the academic, research, and administrative buildings.
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Key Features:
- Academic Buildings: The Central Campus includes, among others: the Howey Physics Building; the Boggs Chemistry Building; the College of Computing Building; the Klaus Advanced Computing Building; the College of Architecture Building; the D. M. Smith Building; the Ford Environmental Science and Technology Building; the Daniel Guggenheim Aerospace Building; the Stephen C. Hall Building; the Jesse W. Mason Building; the Janie Austell Swann Building; the Blake R. Van Leer Electrical and Computer Engineering Building; and the U.A. Whitaker Building.
- Administrative Buildings: Tech's administrative buildings, such as Tech Tower, and the Bursar's Office, are located on the Central Campus, in the Georgia Tech Historic District. The Carnegie Building, constructed in 1907, is located in the Historic District of Central Campus. It was originally the campus library, and it now houses the President's office.
- Student Resources: The campus library, the Student Center, and the Student Services Building ("Flag Building") are also located on Central Campus. The Student Center provides a variety of recreational and social functions for students including: a computer lab, a game room ("Tech Rec"), the Student Post Office, a music venue, a movie theater, the Food Court, plus meeting rooms for various clubs and organizations. Adjacent to the eastern entrance of the Student Center is the Kessler Campanile (which is referred to by students as "The Shaft").
- G. Wayne Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons (CULC): Opened in Fall 2011, the 220,000 square foot academic building is located on Central Campus, adjacent to Tech Green. The building is named after former Georgia Tech President G. Wayne Clough.
Technology Square
Technology Square, while not explicitly detailed in the provided text, is an important part of the Georgia Tech campus. It is located in Midtown Atlanta and serves as a hub for innovation and collaboration between Georgia Tech and the business community.
Key Buildings and Landmarks
Academic Buildings
- Howey Physics Building: The main academic building for the School of Physics, opened in 1967.
- Klaus Advanced Computing Building: A 414,000 square foot academic building that houses the School of Computer Science, the School of Computational Science and Engineering, and multiple classrooms and laboratories for other departments. It was officially opened on October 26, 2006. Named after Georgia Tech alum Chris Klaus, whose $15 million donation financed the building's construction.
- Ford Environmental Science and Technology Building: Opened in 2002, it was the largest academic building on campus at the time of its construction and primarily provides classroom space for the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
- Daniel Guggenheim Aerospace Building: Constructed in 1931, the first building for what is now the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.
- Stephen C. Hall Building: Built in 1924 as the Navy ROTC Building, it now houses the Writing and Communication Program of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.
- Jesse W. Mason Building: The main academic building for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, originally constructed in 1969.
- Marcus Nanotechnology Building: A research facility and headquarters for the Institute of Electronics and Nanotechnology (IEN). Originally opened in 2009 as the Marcus Nanotechnology Research Center, the building adopted its current name in 2013.
Residence Halls
- Brown Residence Hall: The oldest active residence hall on campus, built in 1925 and last renovated in 1993. Brown is located on the northeast corner of North Avenue and Techwood Drive.
- Glenn Residence Hall: A co-ed residence hall in the Georgia Tech Freshman Experience that was previously all male. Glenn is dedicated to William H. Glenn, Tech alumnus. Glenn Hall originally cost $607,000 to construct and was designed by Bush-Brown, Gailey, & Heffernan in 1947. Glenn is the largest capacity dormitory in Freshman Experience Program.
- Harrison Residence Hall: A residence hall in the Georgia Tech Freshman Experience, dedicated to George W. Harrison and currently all female. Harrison is the sister building to Howell Hall, both being built in 1939 behind Brittain Dining Hall.
- Armstrong Residence Hall: A coed residence hall in the Georgia Tech Freshman Experience and Honors Program, dedicated in name to Arthur H. Armstrong. Armstrong Hall was built in 1969 and last renovated in 2006.
Other Notable Buildings
- Carnegie Building: Constructed in 1907, originally the campus library, and now houses the President's office.
- Brittain Dining Hall: The main dining hall for East Campus, modeled after a medieval church.
- Kessler Campanile: Referred to by students as "The Shaft," located adjacent to the eastern entrance of the Student Center.
Historical Expansion of the Campus
The Georgia Tech campus has expanded significantly over the years, reflecting the institute's growth and evolution.
- 1880sâearly 1890s: The "Georgia School of Technology" consisted of two buildings: the Administration Building (Tech Tower) and the Shop Building.
- 1896â1912: Under Lyman Hall's presidency, several new buildings were constructed, including the A. French Textile Building, the Swann Dormitory, and the Electrical Building. The Carnegie Building was completed in 1907.
- 1920s: The Brittain Expansion included the construction of the Physics Building, Brown and Harris dormitories, and the first expansion at Grant Field.
- 1930s: The Heisman Gym and the Techwood (McDaniel) dormitories were completed.
- 1940sâ1950s: Tech's iconic dorms and structures were built, including Towers, Smith, and Glenn dormitories.
- 1960s: Westward expansion past Atlantic Drive to Marietta Street and Northside Drive.
Student Life and Traditions
Living in the dorms at Georgia Tech provides a unique and memorable experience for students. Many alumni recall the strong sense of community and camaraderie that developed among residents.
- Dorm Life: Dorms were a great place to meet new people and most everyone kept their doors open when they were home.
- Pranks and Traditions: Students recount stories of pranks, such as the "Aubie the Tiger tail" incident, and traditions like "Midnight Bud" and running through midtown after Braves victories.
- Advice for New Students: Get to know the others on your floor and around. Also, donât put too much pressure on this, but room with people you enjoy spending time with. After graduation, you remember the simple moments with your roommates!
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