The Pond Student Union Building: A Hub of Campus Life - History and Architecture

The Student Union at the University of Massachusetts Amherst stands as a testament to the evolving role of student life in higher education. Constructed in 1957, this building was designed by architect Louis Warren Ross. It was the first dedicated facility to accommodate student extra-curricular activities and organizations, which became a significant component of the post-WWII academic experience. It remains a vibrant center of campus life, hosting a multitude of activities for students, alumni, and the public.

Historical Context and Conception

The need for a dedicated student union building arose from the strains placed on campus facilities following World War II. In 1948, the university publicized the inadequacy of Draper Commons, designed for 300, to serve a student body of 3,220. This situation fueled the $7 million Van Meter Building Program, launched in 1948 to double student capacity within three years. The Student Union was envisioned as a war memorial in 1946, initially proposed as an addition to Memorial Hall.

The project gained momentum in October 1953 when the campus planning council commissioned a study to determine the ideal location for a free-standing union. Four sites were considered, including the Memorial Hall addition, the intersection of North Pleasant and Clark Hill Roads, North Pleasant across from the pond, and a central location within the campus oval. The final choice was based on walking distances to planned men’s and women’s housing districts. The building was also financed through the institution’s self-liquidating alumni corporation.

Architectural Design and Features

The Student Union is an approximately 106,000 square foot multi-purpose building. It was the largest building constructed on campus at the time. This two-story building features a rectangular plan with projecting bays at the front (west) and rear (east) elevations. The primary entrance faces Machmer Hall along the former Olmsted Drive. The basement level is exposed at the building’s east rear elevation, offering a terrace overlooking the pond landscape.

The building's design reflects a modern aesthetic, diverging from the Georgian Revival style prevalent in the campus's residential quadrangles. Constructed with a steel and concrete frame, the building showcases rectilinear volumes, flat roofs, continuous limestone coping, and common-bond brick veneer. The façade is unified by large bays glazed with rectangular hopper windows framed in limestone.

Key Architectural Elements

Bay Windows: The southwest corner features semicircular bay windows defined by limestone piers, while the south elevation includes octagonal windows at the upper floor.
Curtain Walls: Two-story glazed curtain walls are located at both the west and east elevations, providing ample natural light and views.
Main Entrance: The primary entrance on the west elevation is marked by a two-story portico with polished granite piers and metal-framed glass doors leading to the atrium lobby.
Interior Details: The lobby is finished with marble and wood wall panels. Two open staircases are contained within the west wall and feature decorative metal grill work within the windows at their landings.
Ballroom: Adjacent to the lobby, a two-story ballroom boasts a glazed curtain wall, offering scenic views of the pond.

Following the completion of Hasbrouck Hall in 1950, the University adopted a modern approach to the design of all new academic buildings. Although there were virtually no distinctions in the building’s construction technology from his other projects of the period (concrete and steel frame) the exterior form was a clear departure from the Georgian Revival style influencing the dormitory construction. Such a distinction was not uncommon to this period of post-WWII campus architecture, when academic facilities often embraced the symbolic connotations of modern design, while residential construction adopted the historic.

Louis Warren Ross: The Architect

The Student Union was designed by Louis Warren Ross, a 1917 alumnus of the institution. Ross was deeply involved with the university, serving as a member of the UMass alumni corporation formed in the mid-1930s. From that time until the early 1960s, Ross was the most prolific architect of the campus. He designed over twenty structures, including nearly all the dormitories constructed between 1935 and 1963. This work established the Georgian Revival style as a dominant tradition for the residential quadrangles of the campus.

The Student Union was the last of two non-residential structures Ross designed for the institution, and uniquely was conceived in a contemporary modern style. Although there were virtually no distinctions in the building’s construction technology from his other projects of the period (concrete and steel frame) the exterior form was a clear departure from the Georgian Revival style influencing the dormitory construction. Such a distinction was not uncommon to this period of post-WWII campus architecture, when academic facilities often embraced the symbolic connotations of modern design, while residential construction adopted the historic.

Impact and Evolution

The Student Union's location influenced the construction of Machmer Hall, also built in 1957, directly across Olmsted Drive. While designed by separate architects, both buildings share similar architectural details, contributing to the cohesive design of the central campus academic complex.

New construction in 1970, including the Lincoln Campus Center to the northeast and the Parking Garage to the northwest, have impacted views to and from the building. The MSU Union is probably the busiest building on campus , with a myriad activities for students, alumni and the public around the clock, seven days a week.

The Legacy of Student Unions: A Broader Perspective

To fully appreciate the significance of the Pond Student Union Building, it's helpful to understand the broader history and purpose of student unions in higher education.

Early Student Unions: A Model from Across the Atlantic

The concept of a student union originated at Cambridge University, England, in 1815. It began as a 'union' of three debating societies. In 1866, Cambridge constructed a building with meeting rooms, dining areas, and other facilities, solidifying the concept of a student union.

The Rise of Student Unions in America

The idea of student unions gradually spread to American colleges and universities. These unions served as hubs for student activity, fostering a sense of community and providing spaces for social interaction, recreation, and governance.

Michigan State University: A Parallel Story

Michigan State University (MSU) offers a compelling parallel to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 1905, a committee was formed at Michigan Agricultural College (MAC), now MSU, to plan a student union. Although architectural drawings were prepared, the project stalled due to lack of funding.

The idea resurfaced in 1915 under the leadership of President Frank Kedzie, who aimed to expand alumni activities. The Class of 1915 pledged a contribution of $5 from each member, provided the Alumni Association established a fund for the union.

World War I temporarily halted fundraising and planning efforts. After the war, the project was revived, and the facility was renamed the 'Memorial Union' to honor MAC students who died in the war.

In June 1923, a ground-breaking ceremony was held, but construction faced financial challenges. Robert J. McCarthy, Alumni Secretary, organized an 'Excavation Week,' where students, faculty, and supporters manually dug the foundation. The event garnered national attention and helped revive contributions.

The Memorial Union Building finally opened in June 1925. It featured dining facilities, meeting rooms, a large Assembly Hall, and guest rooms. Over time, the MSU Union underwent additions and renovations, becoming a central hub for campus life.

The Michigan Union: A Pioneer Designed by the Pond Brothers

The Michigan Union at the University of Michigan, designed by brothers Irving K. and Allen B. Pond, stands as a significant example of early student union architecture. The Michigan Union formed in 1904 as "an 'all-inclusive organization' focused on providing feelings of unity for men on campus." Its first meeting drew more than 1,100 students.

The founders of the Michigan Union soon desired a home for the organization. In 1907, they purchased the former house of Judge Thomas M. Cooley. Today, the Michigan Union houses restaurants, student organization office space, conference rooms, study areas, and other student resources.

Irving and Allen Pond, born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1857 and 1858, respectively, established the Chicago architectural firm Pond and Pond in 1886. They gained recognition for their work on Jane Addams' Hull House and designed a wide range of buildings, including several university student union buildings.

Pond and Pond had designed several university student union buildings, including student unions at the University of Michigan and Purdue. The Pond brothers employed a Scholastic Gothic style of construction, and hired many artists to create the many paintings and sculptures that adorn the building inside and out. All of the fireplaces were lined with Pewabic tiles.

The Michigan Union's design included a spacious lounge, dining rooms, a banquet hall, game rooms, meeting rooms, bowling lanes, and a swimming pool. The building aimed to create a unifying "school spirit" and foster loyalty to the university.

Common Threads: The Purpose of a Student Union

The stories of the Pond Student Union at UMass Amherst, the MSU Union, and the Michigan Union highlight the common purpose of these buildings:

Providing a Central Gathering Place: Student unions offer a space for students, faculty, alumni, and visitors to come together, fostering a sense of community.
Supporting Student Activities: These buildings house student organizations, businesses, and recreational facilities, enriching the student experience.
Promoting School Spirit: Student unions serve as symbols of the university, fostering loyalty and pride.
Meeting Evolving Needs: Unions adapt to changing student needs and preferences, undergoing renovations and expansions to remain relevant.

The Pond Student Union Today

The Student Union continues to serve as the campus’s “Living Room,” a place to congregate. Located at the heart of campus, it is at the crossroads of most pedestrian activity as students traipse or bike between classes throughout the day. The student body became the physical and intellectual capital that propelled the Student Union’s success for future generations.

The Union is home to several student-run businesses and over 200-registered student organizations; these are an institutional hallmark for educating the next generation of entrepreneurs. The bold proposal to relocate the 8,000-sf Ballroom by lifting it up one level created a two-story lounge opening the once dense and circuitous, connecting and layering visual activity from within to the campus outside. The design of the Ballroom employs an expansive window system in the historically significant exterior to create a light-filled space that allows occupants to take advantage of views out to Metawampe Lawn, a ceremonial green, and the pond which is one the campus’ primary view corridors.

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