Principles – as an institution of higher learning UNCG was founded in 1891 on three schools – Commercial (Business), Domestic Sciences, and Pedagogy (Teaching). Each of these schools represents a fundamental principle embedded in the material culture of UNCG.
Commerce represents not only the steadfast connection to preparing students to contribute to economic endeavors but also represents the “business” of learning or academic administration. The Domestic Sciences school represents the practical and daily use of learning in life; it also symbolizes to me the use of space for student leisure and daily rituals. Finally, the school of Pedagogy is not only a way to train future teachers but also represents the role of this space as a school – a place to learn.
Commerce represents not only the steadfast connection to preparing students to contribute to economic endeavors but also represents the “business” of learning or academic administration. The Domestic Sciences school represents the practical and daily use of learning in life; it also symbolizes to me the use of space for student leisure and daily rituals. Finally, the school of Pedagogy is not only a way to train future teachers but also represents the role of this space as a school – a place to learn.
I see the progression of these three principles in the material form along two promenades on campus: College Avenue and Spring Garden Road.
Space – In the early years of UNCG the buildings that lined the College Avenue promenade were reserved for student learning, student residence, and the university administration. Those buildings that remain close to College Avenue express a continued belief in the importance of the business of learning, the domestic life of learning, and teaching.
Along College Avenue remains a student center, the library, and academic buildings with classrooms for learning. The expansion of the school followed along Spring Garden Street and now include the new administrative building (Mossman), additional classroom buildings and more recently student residences.
If its history is along College Avenue its future is along Spring Garden Street as UNCG continues to build on these principles with newer buildings.
First with the Curry Building where the School of Education has remained for years then later in the Bryan School of Business and Economics and most recently in the Moore Building for Humanities the commitment to pedagogy remains. I also see the commitment to the student experience through the newer student residential buildings at the end of Spring Garden.
First with the Curry Building where the School of Education has remained for years then later in the Bryan School of Business and Economics and most recently in the Moore Building for Humanities the commitment to pedagogy remains. I also see the commitment to the student experience through the newer student residential buildings at the end of Spring Garden.
Power – In defining power I see those spaces that have remained sacred and separate from the changes around it. The Foust Building, which started out as an administration office building, is evidence of the power on campus. First as a place where the leader of the school held his offices and where students were admitted, graduated and held ceremony.
Another building of importance is the former Chancellor’s Residence which was originally east of campus. Demonstrating a commitment to the power of place, person, and history the building, in 2003, it was moved from a less prominent place to a new “center” of campus farther west along Spring Garden.
http://library.uncg.edu/info/depts/scua/exhibits/timeline/pages/2003.htm
Experience – Moving along either of these promenades I can experience all three principles passing by the classroom buildings, administration buildings and even places were students live. Along College Avenue it is the Elliot University Center where students take part in extracurricular activities as well as shop and eat. Further on College are residence halls and the main Dining Hall. Following Spring Garden are more places for students to study, play and eat.
Order – In considering order of buildings I see the value of the student experience as I move along both promenades. I can see the use of student leisure and residential space as it is now more prominent than it had been in the middle part of UNCG’s history. Where first there were dormitories close to the classroom and administration buildings in the middle part of the 20th century the residences were moved to the periphery.
A diagram of this shows how removed the “Quad” was from the historic classroom buildings. New student residences were built on the edges but then other buildings have filled in the space. With the most recent construction student living quarters seem just as important as classroom space with one building each being built across from each other on Spring Garden Street.
Precedent -The Foust Building is the pre-eminent building on campus and has been so since the University was founded but its connections to subsequent buildings is less apparent because of the period styles. Evidence of the impact of prevalent styles can be seen in many of the buildings along both promenades. Many of the older buildings along College Avenue were in keeping with the revivalist trends of the early 20th century. Later additions in entire buildings along Spring Garden and modifications to older buildings along College Avenue are indicative of the time period rather than the style of Foust. This is particularly evident in the Bryan School of Business & Economics building which was designed in the early 1970s but constructed later in the decade. The style of the Bryan Building stands out as reflecting the time more than the context of the campus.
In more recent times new construction is a reflection more of the surrounding buildings and the historic traditions of the University. This is evidenced in the Walker Parking Deck and the newly built School of Education building on Spring Garden Street.
Site -The most limiting factor that influences UNCG is its site. Within a strictly defined urban environment there is little room for expansion of space and instead of growing outwardly I can see how buildings have been modified or taken vertically. Older buildings are renovated instead of being razed and rebuilt, or extensions and annexations are added. This is clear in the form of the Library. Starting out as a neo-classical building with tall columns and a symmetrical facade it was expanded on in the later 20th century through a tall, concrete block structure reflective of Cold War-era architecture. The two parts of the library have little in common as the original building extends horizontally while the new part is a stark white tower reaching into the sky.
Scale – Scale is expressed in the contrast between newer buildings and older buildings. With the exception of Foust the buildings along the promenades that are larger are generally newer in construction. What is interesting is how the University has incorporated new construction into older buildings especially for the Elliot Center, the Library and the Dining Hall. Administrative buildings have remained smaller and less conspicuous while those for student activities have overtaken much of the space on campus. In looking at the current administrative building, Mossman, and comparing to its neighbor on campus, the Elliot Center, it is clear where the goals of the institution are reflected in the use of scale.
UNCG University Relations, Image Library, http://libphoto1.uncg.edu/netpub/server.np?quickfind=Campus&catalog=catalog&site=UR_Public&template=results.np
Technology – Evidence of technology can be seen at UNCG through its windows and use of glass. With early buildings windows were small and as time passed the widows became larger and larger. With the contemporary buildings windows dominate the construction of the buildings. Technology that allows this modern use of glass can be seen in the Main Dining Hall with its large atrium enclosed in glass with metal framework.
Surface – Surface is a unifying element to the material form at UNCG. Many of the buildings are composed of or include brickwork. With few exceptions it is the element of this red-brown surface that identifies campus within its community. In addition to the surface of buildings being predominantly made of brick the pedestrian walkways along the promenades are also defined by brick. Where campus visitors enter the space there are large brick-construction signs indicating the limits of the University.
