A Guide to the Iconic Buildings of UCLA

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) stands as a beacon of academic excellence and architectural grandeur in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. UCLA's academic roots trace back to 1881 when it was established as a normal school, known as the southern branch of the California State Normal School, which later became San José State University. Today, the Westwood campus boasts nearly 200 buildings spread across 419 acres, offering 337 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a range of disciplines. UCLA continues to evolve, balancing its historical charm with modern expansions to meet the needs of its growing community.

The Historical Core

The original four buildings that formed the heart of the new UCLA campus in 1929-Royce Hall, Powell Library, Haines Hall, and Renee and David Kaplan Hall-were strategically arrayed around a quadrangular courtyard on the 400-acre campus. These buildings, designed by the local firm Allison & Allison, set the tone for the campus's architectural identity. The Romanesque Revival style of these first four structures remained the predominant building style until the 1950s. The Janss Steps served as the original 87-step entrance to the university, leading to the quad of these buildings.

Royce Hall: An Architectural Icon

Royce Hall, the most recognized and Instagrammed building on campus, stands seven stories high. Built in the Italian Romanesque style, it is named in honor of California-born philosopher Josiah Royce, who graduated from UC Berkeley in 1875 and was one of the first four people to earn a doctorate in philosophy from Johns Hopkins University. Originally the main classroom facility of UCLA, Royce Hall is now best known for its legendary acoustics.

Powell Library: A Treasure Trove of Knowledge

Located across the quad from Royce Hall, Powell Library also reflects Italian Romanesque architecture, with Moorish elements added to pay homage to California’s Spanish culture. One of its defining features is a 45-foot-high rotunda in the reading room. The interior is graced with high arched star-patterned ceilings crafted of wood, tall windows, exquisite brickwork, and mosaic tile.

Powell Library has its own intriguing stories. In 1949, a 28-year-old grad student named Charles Glenn attempted to steal a 1640 tome worth $100,000, the Bay Psalm Book, which was on display as part of a Washington’s Birthday exhibit. Glenn hid in the library until closing, grabbed the book from the glass display case, and jumped out a window, only to be apprehended by UCLA police. He claimed it was part of an initiation rite for a secret society. In 1992, Powell Library was emptied to undergo seismic retrofitting. Author Ray Bradbury also has a connection to Powell Library. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, he worked on an early draft of Fahrenheit 451 in Powell, using typewriters available for rent. He spent a total of $9.80 over nine days to write The Fireman, a novella that would later become Fahrenheit 451.

Haines Hall and Renee and David Kaplan Hall

Originally known as the Chemistry Building and the Physics-Biology Building, respectively, Haines Hall and Renee and David Kaplan Hall complete the original quad. The Chemistry Building, now Haines Hall, houses anthropology, sociology, and other departments. The Physics-Biology Building, now Renee and David Kaplan Hall, houses humanities.

Expanding the Campus

The campus continued to expand, with buildings added in the early 1930s, including the Education Building (now Moore Hall), Kerckhoff Hall, and Mira Hershey Hall. The postwar construction boom of the 1940s yielded Schoenberg Hall, Perloff Hall, Bunche Hall, and the Life Sciences Building, among others.

Kerckhoff Hall: A Hub of Student Life

Situated in the middle between North and South campus, Kerckhoff Hall resembles a castle with its pointed arches, stained glass windows, and spires. Named after lumber and energy magnate William G. Kerckhoff, who helped bring electricity to California, the building was funded by his wife, Louise, after his death, as he wished to provide funds to build UCLA’s student union. Today, the former student union building houses ASUCLA clubs and student government offices, a busy coffeehouse, study lounges, an art gallery, meeting rooms, and the Charles E. Young Grand Salon. Kerckhoff Hall has also served as a set for various movies and TV shows, with its patio and coffeehouse receiving numerous close-ups. The "Women’s Smoking Room" on the third floor is now the co-ed Louise Kerckhoff Study Lounge.

Mira Hershey Hall: A Residence Hall with a Past

Mira Hershey Hall is a two-story, Italian Renaissance-style building tucked away near the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, behind the La Kretz Botany Building and Terasaki Life Sciences. Philanthropist Almira Hershey, a distant relative of famed chocolatier Milton Hershey, left $300,000 in her will to build the first on-campus residence hall for women. During the women-only era, an incident occurred where a man was found hiding under a bed after hours. The resident involved had to write a 1,000-word essay, while two other women involved in the incident were assigned 500-word essays. Not surprisingly, the strict rules led to comparisons to a convent. In 1969, Hershey Hall became a coed graduate student dormitory.

Bunche Hall: The Waffle

When it made its debut, Bunche Hall ushered in the era of UCLA’s modern high-rise buildings. Nicknamed “The Waffle” for its rectangular shape and windows, Bunche Hall is named after African-American alumnus Ralph Bunche, who received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating an armistice agreement between the Jews and Arabs in Israel. The entrance of Bunche Hall features a bust of him overlooking the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden. In the history department’s student lounge on the sixth floor, a mural depicting an apocalyptic scene of the Charles E. Young Research Library in the future covers one wall from floor to ceiling. It’s one of the last works by acclaimed muralist and UCLA graduate Terry Schoonhoven and the L.A. Fine Arts Squad. Bruins who were students up to the late 1990s will recall that the Henry J. Bruman Maps and Government Information Library, a literal treasure trove of maps, was located in the basement of Bunche. Between Bunche Hall and the Charles E. Young Research Library is Palm Court, an ersatz tropical oasis (minus the classroom doors).

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Pauley Pavilion

Though long associated with Coach John Wooden, Pauley Pavilion is actually named for Edwin W. Pauley. “Wooden Way,” featuring Coach Wooden memorabilia, was added in the east concourse during a renovation. Pauley Pavilion instantly became a hive for high-profile events, hosting the gymnastics competitions of the 1984 Olympics and tapings of Jeopardy!.

Modern Developments and Expansions

Architect Welton Becket was hired to supervise the expansion of the campus. Becket greatly streamlined its general appearance, adding several rows of minimalist, slab-shaped brick buildings to the southern half, the largest of these being the UCLA Medical Center. Architects such as A. Quincy Jones, William Pereira, and Paul Williams designed many subsequent structures on the campus during the mid-20th century. More recent additions include buildings designed by architects I.M. Pei, Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates, Richard Meier, Cesar Pelli, and Rafael Vinoly. To accommodate UCLA's rapidly growing student population, multiple construction and renovation projects are in progress, including expansions of the life sciences and engineering research complexes.

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