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Harvard Science Center

Coordinates: 42°22′35″N 71°06′59″W / 42.376377°N 71.116297°W / 42.376377; -71.116297
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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by EEng (talk | contribs) at 23:11, 13 November 2015 (→‎History: ce, delays are a minor and usual detail). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Science Center, located just north of Harvard Yard

The Harvard University Science Center is Harvard's main classroom and laboratory building for undergraduate science and mathematics, in addition to housing numerous other facilities and services. Located just north of Harvard Yard, the Science Center was built in 1972[1] and opened in 1973[2][3] after a design by Josep Lluís Sert (then dean of the Harvard Graduate School of Design).[4]

History

Planning

Harvard had been interested in building an undergraduate science center in the 1950s and 1960s. However, in the midst of an economic decline, funding could not be found. No concrete plans were made until in 1968, Edwin Land, inventor of the Polaroid "Land" camera, made a $12.5 million dollar donation to construct a science center specifically for undergraduates.[5][6]

Opponents of the plan feared that insufficient monies would be found to complete the projecct, and the buidling's maintenance costs would be unreasonably high.[6] The Biology Department also protested the move of its undergraduate-instruction facilities far from the department's main quarters. George Wald, arguing that this would degrade the quality of instruction. There was also dissatisfaction with cancellation of plans for a new biochemistry building.[7]

The plan called for demolition of Lawrence Hall, a laboratory and a living space built in 1848, though by the time of the scheduled demolition it had been occupied as the site of "Free University".[clarification needed] The controversy was rendered moot when fire gutted the building.[8][9]

As part of the project, from 1966–68 the portion of Cambridge Street running along the north edge of Harvard Yard was depressed into an underpass, allowing unhindered pedestrian movement between the Yard and Harvard facilities to the north, including the Science Center itself. Architectural historian Bainbridge Bunting wrote that this was the "most important improvement in Cambridge since the construction of [what would later be called] Memorial Drive in the 1890s."[1]

Construction

Harvard commissioned architects Sert, Jackson and Associates to build the facility. Sert, who had become Dean of the Harvard School of Design in 1953, had designed a number of other Harvard buildings, including the Peabody Terrace, the Holyoke Center (now the Smith Campus Center), and the Harvard Divinity School's Center of Study of World Religions. These buildings were part of a modernist movement that sought to break away from the Georgian and neo-Georgian styles used in various forms at Harvard for more than 300 years. Thus, the Science Center is largely composed of steel and concrete, with plentiful glass admitting natural light.[4][7] Construction lasted from 1970 to 1972.[7]

From 2001 to 2004 a $22 million, 32,000-square-foot renovation created space for the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments and expanded other facilities.[5][10][11]

Facilities

The Science Center stands nine stories tall with a basement and an observatory floor. It houses the History of Science, Mathematics, and Statistics Departments. Other facilities included are:[12]

  • Cabot Science Library: a popular library with a collection focused on mathematics, statistics, and science-related interdisciplinary studies.[3]
  • Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning: An organization that offers free services to Harvard affiliates to enhance teaching skills.[13]
  • Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments: This museum operated by the History of Science Department contains over 20,000 objects dating back to 1400.[14]
  • Greenhouse Cafe
  • Five large lecture halls: Seating from 132 to 500.[15]
  • 15 General use classrooms[15]
  • Teaching laboratories for the chemistry, physics, biology, and other sciences
  • Astronomical observatory on the top floor, with large telescopes
  • Faculty and staff offices
  • Facilities for central services such as mail and computing.

Beneath the Science Center (and largely unknown to occupants of the Science Center proper) is a massive chilled water plant, which provides cooling to much of Harvard from the Science Center northward.[16] Following the expansion of the Science Center, it is now located under the courtyard.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b Bunting, Bainbridge; Henderson, Margaret (1985). Harvard: An Architectural History. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-0674372917. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  2. ^ Stayner, Christian. "Reshaping Harvard's Landscape". The Crimson. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b "History". Cabot Library. Harvard Library. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b Goldberger, Paul. "JOSEP L. SERT, 80, ARCHITECT, WAS HARVARD DEAN OF DESIGN". New York Times. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  5. ^ a b The Harvard Magazine. "Reshaping the Science Center". Harvard Magazine. Harvard Magazine. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  6. ^ a b Shapiro, Peter. "A $10 Million Science Center Headache". The Harvard Crimson. The Crimson. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Nepom, Jerry. "How (Not) To Build a Science Center". The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  8. ^ Epps, Garrett. "Fire Guts Lawrence Hall; Wall Collapses on Firemen". The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  9. ^ GoldHaber, Samuel. "Cox: Memories of Fire". The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  10. ^ Vascellaro, Jessica. "Science Center to Undergo Renovation". The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  11. ^ Meisel, Matthew. "Science Center Work Nears Finish". The Harvard Crimson. The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Science Center - Director's Office". Harvard FAS. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  13. ^ "History". Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. Harvard FAS. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  14. ^ "The Collection". Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments. Harvard University. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  15. ^ a b "Science Center Room Scheduling". Harvard FAS. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  16. ^ Goldstein, Susan. "The Great Chilled Water Bazaar Or Harvard's Energy Labyrinth". The Crimson. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  17. ^ "Harvard University Science Center". Stephen Stimson Associates Landscape Architects. Retrieved 13 November 2015.

External links

42°22′35″N 71°06′59″W / 42.376377°N 71.116297°W / 42.376377; -71.116297


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