| A distinctive and unexpected campus style was designed for the University of Colorado in Boulder. Its beauty and fit is still admired almost a century later. This thesis explores how the style was created---examining personalities, challenges, context and attitudes that came together when the design was conceived.; The architectural design was the result of the convergence of two dynamic forces, East Coast American design ideas with a Western context. The Philadelphia-based architects, Frank Miles Day and Charles Zeller Klauder, employed design concepts from a turn-of-the-century movement called "Academic Eclecticism." This approach included an appreciation for American landscapes and a desire to create contextually appropriate architecture. Academic Eclectics favored fusing design styles, emphasizing fit and function over reproducing a particular historical style.; However, the University of Colorado situation presented several unique challenges. In 1917, Boulder was a rural mining supply town with an impressive Rocky Mountain backdrop but no existing architectural tradition. The Regents at the University were determined to follow a popular trend and adopt the Collegiate Gothic style, while some influential faculty opposed them, favoring variety in campus architecture rather than a uniform style. Another significant obstacle for the architects was the limited availability of local stone that would meet their standards for Collegiate Gothic. These challenges, conflicts and limitations led the architects to identify an unusual and unexpected precedent in northern Italian vernacular architecture, which they believed would reflect Boulder's spectacular landscape, campus needs, and available materials. The University President and Board of Regents quickly abandoned their earlier expectations in favor of the new prototype, which has weathered the test of time and still serves as the basis for design decisions made at the University. This thesis offers special insights into the circumstances leading to this dramatic and ultimately successful change in direction. Understanding the process by which this new idea was conceived can help inform the design of other college campuses seeking a regionally appropriate expression. |
