Creating Campus Appeal

Richard Ekman, president of the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) writes in University Business about the beauty of college campuses and the impact on their decision to matriculate and their later affection for their alma mater. He also notes the CIC's wonderful Historic Campus Architecture Project and its online database of 2,100 historic buildings on its members' campuses.

Campus planners and alumni often have very different opinions about campus architecture. When alumni are asked about the buildings on campus that they like or about the design plans for a new structure, they often express conservative stylistic preferences, with collegiate Gothic often being a favorite. When campus planners and architects are surveyed about campus buildings, however, they are often dismissive of the lack of imagination that led to a decision to build another building in this style when more innovative options were available. When they discuss other options with institutional administrators and others, the results can be surprising and illuminating.

Ekman also refers to the SCUP-published book by Richard P. Dober, Old Main, which is full-color companion piece to Dober's Campus Heritage book (also full color). Each would make a nice holiday gift for anyone who loves campuses and campus planning.