Monday, May 17, 2010

DePaul University

A couple of postings ago (April 3, 2010), I alluded to DePaul University in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood as exemplifying a community that, I felt, had a unique college-town feel amidst the larger city. Last week, I was in downtown Chicago for an academic conference, so I decided to take the "L" (short for elevated trains) up to DePaul (Fullerton Ave. station). DePaul also has professional schools downtown, but I focused on the main Lincoln Park campus (see this three-dimensional map of all campus buildings). Signage is plentiful, both for the university and the surrounding community.



An interesting juxtaposition of traditional and modern is the university's Concert Hall (formerly the Chapel), which has a solar panel nearby for alternative energy purposes (shown by the third column, going left to right, of the building's facade).


Another attractive area on campus is known as The Quad and St. Vincent's Circle. I took two photos of this area, one from a distance and the other (the insert) closer to the Circle.


Most buildings on the DePaul campus are constructed in an attractive red-brick style, but the school is not exempt from what I call the "concrete jungle" appearance (an architectural style known as "brutalist").


An oddity of the campus is L train running through it, here by an athletic field.


Talking about sports, DePaul and the city of Chicago named a street on campus (on an honorary basis) for legendary former Blue Demon men's basketball coach Ray Meyer.


DePaul is situated in what is primarily a residential area, and a very nice one at that.


There are also, however, student-oriented businesses near campus (cafes, bars, T-shirt/memorabilia shops, etc.) that are characteristic of college towns. Here are some photos I took in the neighborhood south of campus (shown at the very bottom is the intersection of Webster and Halsted).


Monday, May 03, 2010

University of Southern California (2010)

One of our frequent guest contributors, Sothy Eng, recently visited the University of Southern California and sent me some pictures. It looks like, in addition to getting most of the major USC landmarks, Sothy also worked in some of the school's newest architecture. First, we have the globe tower at the Von KleinSmid Center of International and Public Affairs, as described on the USC Wikipedia page...


Next are shots of two USC libraries and their respective surroundings, the Doheny Library...


...and the Leavey Library, with its adjacent Reflecting Pool and Martens Plaza...


This next photo appears to be of USC's new School of Cinematic Arts (here and here). You've probably heard the joke about how virtually everyone who waits on tables in L.A. restaurants wants to act in the movies. Actually, however, about 40% of them want to direct!


Finally, for you sports fans, we have the Tommy Trojan statue, the symbol of USC football and other athletic teams.