University of Dayton - MyLife

New 'Faces' on Campus

There is no doubt about it. Contractors have been very, very busy this summer at UD. Construction is going on everywhere, and much of it seems to be aesthetically driven. Kettering Labs, the engineering building that I spend most of my time in, received all new windows and an improved facade. The building now looks exactly like all the other buildings on campus. I find this somewhat ironic. First, most buildings on college campuses share a common architectural theme, but rarely do ALL of the buildings look alike, even at the most beautiful campuses. Secondly, if there's one building that sticks out like a sore thumb on a college campus, it's the engineering building. With the exception of a few new engineering buildings here and there, most engineering buildings are the ugliest buildings on college campuses.

The PAC (Physical Activities Center) is also undergoing a face-lift to bring it in line with the surrounding architecture. I believe these improvements are mostly good. However, they do cause a good deal of confusion for freshmen during the first few days of class in August. Last week, I witnessed something for the first time in my 5 years here at UD: a freshman looking for a classroom in Kettering Labs which was actually in Marianist Hall! No longer can someone direct a young, new Flyer to "that big ugly 1960s-looking engineering building next to C lot."

Aug 28, 2008 12:38 AM Permalink