Oglethorpe University's Academic Quadrangle: A Historical and Architectural Nexus
Oglethorpe University, a private liberal arts college nestled in Brookhaven, Georgia, boasts a rich history and a distinctive architectural style. Its academic quadrangle serves as the heart of the campus, embodying its evolution and reflecting its commitment to both tradition and innovation. The quadrangle's significance lies not only in its historical value but also in its role as a dynamic space for learning, collaboration, and community engagement.
A Collegiate Gothic Foundation
The cornerstone of Oglethorpe University's new campus was laid in 1915 at its present location on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven. The campus buildings were constructed in a Gothic revival architecture style, a design choice that reflects the university's commitment to its heritage and creates a distinctive sense of place. In 1994, Lupton Hall, Phoebe Hearst Hall, Lowry Hall, and Hermance Stadium were added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing their architectural significance and contribution to the campus's unique character.
The I.W. "Ike" Cousins Center for Science and Innovation: A Modern Transformation
The I.W. "Ike" Cousins Center for Science and Innovation, formerly Goslin Hall, stands as a testament to Oglethorpe University's forward-thinking approach. The original three-story modernist building, located on the historic quadrangle, has been transformed into a union of contemporary innovative architecture and a reflection of the authentically crafted Collegiate Gothic buildings on campus.
Cooper Carry led the design for the nearly 50-year-old building's exterior and interior renovations, as well as its 25,000-square-foot addition, a U-shaped structure wrapping three sides of the original 1971 hall. This approach not only limited the waste of demolition by reusing the existing structure but also preserves available land on campus for future growth. The redesigned Cousins Center incorporates modern elements such as extensive glass walls to let in light and provide expansive views, multiple new entryways that connect pedestrians from all corners of campus, and enhanced accessibility.
To create a design that blends the historic with the new, Cooper Carry's design team translated historic proportions for roof slopes, stone detailing, and windows after analyzing the original hand-drawn blueprints for Lupton Hall, the second oldest building on campus, which have been preserved by the Atlanta History Center. Many of the innovative contemporary elements such as curtain wall, metal panels, and roof overhangs were based on the fundamental proportions of the historic documents discovered by the design team. In addition, slate roofing tiles, granite walls, and precast concrete detailing echo the campus’ dominant Collegiate Gothic architecture, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exterior stone from the original building was also preserved and repurposed as interior walls after the addition was built around it.
Read also: Maximize Your Oglethorpe Scholarship Weekend
The new center now houses laboratory classrooms and spaces for interactive study across disciplines as well as the university’s newly established Q. William Hammack Jr. School of Business. Updated laboratories facilitate active learning with state-of-the-art technology. A new space called “The Garage” features a stage and tiered bleacher seating for events as well as an industrial garage door, which opens to a quad-level outdoor terrace. The operable garage door blends the indoor and outdoor realms, providing another area for students to gather with peers or find pause in nature. Upstairs, a loft space serves as a new incubation lab where students can develop startups or create products, with reservable meeting rooms, teaming furniture, and technology for collaboration.
Brian Campa, principal at Cooper Carry, remarked, “As a new central hub for the campus, the science and business schools provide a unified environment to spark creativity and encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration. This focus on communal innovation and collaboration was a critical component of the design. By opening up the old spaces and creating interconnected environments, the Cousins Center puts learning and collaboration on display, capitalizing on the building location to create an important crossroads for students at the heart of the campus.”
The design team recognized the importance of providing ample daylight to maximize energy efficiency, save costs, and improve the student experience. According to a 2018 report by the Urban Land Institute, exposure to daylight and access to windows have been linked to better productivity during the day and better sleep at night, as well as improved mood and cognitive function, less sleepiness, lower blood pressure, and increased physical activity. Natural light carries throughout the center with glass walls dividing classrooms and interior hallways, also benefitting interdisciplinary communication and interaction.
QuadFest: A Celebration of Community
The first week of classes at Oglethorpe marks the start of new academic journeys, and students celebrate in style at one of the community’s most beloved traditions: QuadFest. This annual event gives students the chance to relax, connect with friends, and enjoy a well-earned break after a busy first week.
Oglethorpe University: A Legacy of Education and Innovation
Oglethorpe University was chartered in 1834 in Midway (now known as Hardwick), Georgia, just south of Milledgeville, then the state capital. The college followed the relocation of the capital to Atlanta. In 1870, it began holding classes at the present site of Atlanta City Hall. Oglethorpe College was re-chartered as a non-denominational institution in 1913 by Thornwell Jacobs, whose grandfather Ferdinand Jacobs had served on the faculty of Old Oglethorpe.
Read also: Financial Aid at Oglethorpe
In the early 1940s Oglethorpe University had a medical school. Under the direction of John Bernard, the university was given several elephants for research that were discovered to have been poisoned at a Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus event nearby. Oglethorpe University became Oglethorpe College in 1965 and reclaimed the designation "university" in 1972.
Oglethorpe University is home to the Crypt of Civilization, the first and most complete time capsule ever created, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Scheduled to be opened in AD 8113, it is located in the basement of Phoebe Hearst Hall. The Turner Lynch Campus Center opened in the fall of 2013.
In early February, the college hosts events to celebrate the anniversary of James Oglethorpe's founding of the colony of Georgia. Held on the first Friday of December, this event is modeled after the Boar's Head Gaudy of Queen's College, Oxford, Boar's Head is the traditional start to the Christmas season at Oglethorpe. Festivities include a concert featuring the University Singers, student organizations and performers from the community, as well as the lighting of the college's Christmas tree.
Athletics: The Stormy Petrels
Oglethorpe University teams compete as a member of the Southern Athletic Association (SAA) at the NCAA Division III level and are known as the Stormy Petrels. The Stormy Petrels were a member of the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) until 2012. In 2011, the men's soccer program won its first conference championship in school history with a 1-0 victory over Centre College. This win sent them to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship, also a first in school history for the program. In the fall of 2013, the men's soccer team won its second conference championship in school history with a 3-1 victory over Millsaps College. The men's soccer team won the SAA championship for the second time in 2017 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. More recently, the program saw a resurgence with back-to-back trips to the national tournament in 2018 and 2019, and an SAA championship in 2018.
Thornwell Jacobs chose an unusual mascot to represent Oglethorpe's athletic teams: the Stormy Petrel.
Read also: University of Georgia Sorority Guide
A Commitment to Core Values
Oglethorpe University's core values are reflected in its commitment to providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for leadership and success in a global society. The university emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, communication, and collaboration, and it encourages students to engage with their communities and make a positive impact on the world.
The university's mission is to educate the whole person, fostering intellectual, ethical, and social development. Oglethorpe strives to create a learning environment that is both challenging and supportive, where students can explore their interests, develop their talents, and prepare for meaningful lives and careers.
tags: #oglethorpe #university #academic #quadrangle #history #significance
