1. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA – CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
ĐẠI HỌC VIRGINIA NẰM Ở CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA, VÀ LÀ MỘT TRONG NHỮNG TRƯỜNG CÔNG NHẤT CẢ NƯỚC. KHUÔN VIÊN TRƯỜNG CŨNG ĐƯỢC LIỆT KÊ TRÊN TRANG WEB DI SẢN THẾ GIỚI CỦA UNESCO DO ĐƯỢC THÀNH LẬP BỞI CÁC NHỮNG NHÀ LÃNH TỤ VĨ ĐẠI CỦA MỸ GỒM THOMAS JEFFERSON, JAMES MONROE VÀ JAMES MADISON. MÙA ĐÔNG TẠI ĐẠI HỌC VIRGINIA LÀ MỘT KHOẢNG THỜI GIAN TUYỆT VỜI CHO KHÔNG CHỈ SINH VIÊN MÀ CÒN CHO DU KHÁCH VÀ NGƯỜI DÂN ĐỊA PHƯƠNG. WASHINGTON VƯỜN HILLS ĐƯỢC THIẾT KẾ HOÀN HẢO ĐỂ TRƯỢT TUYẾT VÀO NHỮNG NGÀY MÙA ĐÔNG. CÁC KHU VỰC ROTUNDA VÀ LAWN ĐƯỢC THẮP SÁNG VỚI HƠN 12.500 CHIẾC ĐÈN ĐỂ MANG LẠI MỘT CẢNH TƯỢNG RỰC RỠ ĐẸP MẮT CHO TẤT CẢ MỌI NGƯỜI TRONG NHỮNG THÁNG MÙA ĐÔNG - LỄ HỘI THẮP ĐÈN TRUYỀN THỐNG CỦA LAWN ĐÃ ĐƯỢC DUY TRÌ GẦN 15 NĂM NAY. CÁC SÂN BĂNG TRUNG TÂM THỎA SỨC CHO CÁC ĐỘI KHÚC CÔN CẦU VÀ TRƯỢT VÁN THỂ HIỆN TÀI NĂNG. KHI TUYẾT RƠI, TOÀN BỘ MẶT ĐẤT KHUÔN VIÊN TRƯỜNG SẼ TRỞ THÀNH MỘT SÂN CHƠI DÀNH CHO TẤT CẢ MỌI NGƯỜI CẢ TRẺ VÀ GIÀ. MỌI NGƯỜI ĐỀU KHOÁC LÊN MÌNH NHỮNG BỘ CÁNH MÙA ĐÔNG TUYỆT VỜI NHẤT ĐỂ RA NGOÀI VÀ VUI ĐÙA VỚI TUYẾT. ĐÀI QUAN SÁT MCCORMICK CỦA CHARLOTTESVILLE CŨNG CHO MỌI NGƯỜI CHIÊM NGƯỠNG CÁC CHÒM SAO XINH ĐẸP TRÊN BẦU TRỜI ĐÊM ĐÔNG, ĐẶC BIỆT LÀ TRONG THÁNG HAI. CÁC ĐÀI QUAN SÁT ĐƯỢC MỞ CỬA CHO CÔNG CHÚNG VÀO THỨ SÁU ĐỂ SINH VIÊN ĐẠI HỌC VIRGINIA CÓ THỂ ĐẾN THAM QUAN TRONG NHỮNG NGÀY MÙA ĐÔNG LẠNH GIÁ.
2. BRYN MAWR COLLEGE – BRYN MAWR, PENNSYLVANIA
SÂN TRƯỜNG HIỆN VẪN CÒN LƯU GIỮ NHỮNG MẪU KIẾN TRÚC ĐẦU TIÊN CỦA KIỂU KIẾN TRÚC COLLEGIATE GOTHIC. TRƯỜNG LÀ SỰ KẾT HỢP CỦA THIÊN NHIÊN TƯƠI MÁT VÀ CÁC CÔNG TRÌNH KIẾN TRÚC ĐẦY CẢM HỨNG. NGÔI TRƯỜNG NỮ SINH NÀY ĐƯỢC THÀNH LẬP VÀO NĂM 1885, VÀ RỘNG 135 MẪU ANH, TRONG ĐÓ CÓ MỘT PHẦN LÀ SỰ SÁNG TẠO CỦA CÁC KIẾN TRÚC SƯ CẢNH QUAN NỔI TIẾNG FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED VÀ CALVERT VAUX.
3. UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
4. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY – PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY
ACCORDING TO BOSTON ARCHITECT MARK DESHONG, “PRINCETON HAS BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS, BUT THE EXQUISITE LANDSCAPING AMPLIFIES THEM EVEN MORE.” IT’S CERTAINLY HARD TO DISAGREE WITH HIM WHEN WALKING ACROSS THE PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY-BASED SCHOOL’S 500-ACRE CAMPUS, AS STUNNING-LOOKING COLLEGIATE GOTHIC STRUCTURES AND IMMACULATELY TAMED GREEN EXPANSES ARE IN ABUNDANCE. PERHAPS THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN OF THE IVY LEAGUE INSTITUTION – AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO ARCHITECTURE – IS THE PALATIAL NASSAU HALL. THE HALL HAS STOOD IN SOME FORM SINCE 1756, TEN YEARS AFTER THE UNIVERSITY’S FOUNDATION, AND HAS REMAINED A CONSTANT FEATURE AS THE CAMPUS HAS GROWN AROUND IT. NASSAU HAS BEEN NO STRANGER TO MISFORTUNE, HOWEVER, AS IT HAS BURNT DOWN NOT ONCE BUT TWICE – IN 1802 AND 1855. THE BUILDING’S PRESENT ITALIAN RENAISSANCE-STYLE INCARNATION COMES COURTESY OF SCOTTISH-AMERICAN ARCHITECT JOHN NOTMAN, ALTHOUGH IT HAS UNDERGONE SEVERAL RENOVATIONS WITHIN THE PAST CENTURY OR SO.
5. UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
6. SEWANEE: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH – SEWANEE, TENNESSEE
MAGNIFICENT NEO-GOTHIC BUILDINGS ADD A TOUCH OF OPULENT STYLE TO THE 13,000-ACRE SEWANEE: THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH CAMPUS, LOCATED ON THE CUMBERLAND PLATEAU IN MIDDLE TENNESSEE’S SOUTHEASTERN CORNER. ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF ALL SEWANEE’S EDIFICES IS SURELY ALL SAINTS’ CHAPEL, THE WORK OF DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN ARCHITECT RALPH ADAMS CRAM. THE BUILDING BOASTS A TOWER, A ROSE WINDOW AND ARCHED CEILINGS, DRAWING ON DESIGN ELEMENTS FROM ICONIC PLACES OF WORSHIP LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD’S UNIVERSITY CHURCH AND THE NOTRE DAME DE PARIS. THE CHAPEL HAS HAD A LONG DEVELOPMENT HISTORY: CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN 1905, ALMOST A HALF-CENTURY AFTER THE FOUNDING OF THE SCHOOL IN 1857; HOWEVER, OWING TO LACK OF FUNDS IT WAS NOT FINISHED UNTIL 1959. INTERESTINGLY, THE CHURCH’S EVENTUAL COMPLETION WAS THANKS TO THE UNIVERSITY’S THEN VICE CHANCELLOR EDWARD MCCRADY, WHO USED CRAM’S INITIAL BLUEPRINT TO HELP RAISE THE STRUCTURE THAT STANDS ON THE SEWANEE CAMPUS TODAY.
11. COLGATE UNIVERSITY – HAMILTON VILLAGE, NEW YORK
GIVEN THE ABUNDANCE OF STUNNING GREENERY, ATTRACTIVE ARCHITECTURE AND LOVELY NATURAL FEATURES, IT’S FITTING THAT COLGATE UNIVERSITY’S 575-ACRE CAMPUS IN HAMILTON VILLAGE, NEW YORK WAS HAILED AS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL IN THE U.S. FOR 2010 BY THE PRINCETON REVIEW. THE GROUNDS ARE HOME TO AROUND 2,300 TREES SUCH AS MAGNIFICENT MAPLES AND OAKS; THE GRAND TAYLOR LAKE, GRACED BY A PAIR OF SWANS NAMED ADAM AND EVE; AND AN ABUNDANCE OF EYE-CATCHING STONE BUILDINGS. THE IMPRESSIVE EDIFICES INCLUDE THE OLD BIOLOGY HALL, COMPLETED IN A ROMANESQUE STYLE BY C.B. BUTLER IN 1885 AND NOW, AS HASCALL HALL, PLAYING HOST TO THE PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION DEPARTMENT. COLGATE UNIVERSITY WAS ORIGINALLY SET UP IN 1819 AS THE BAPTIST EDUCATION SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN THE TOWN OF HAMILTON. ITS CURRENT CAMPUS WAS BOUGHT IN 1826, AND THE INSTITUTION WAS RENAMED MADISON UNIVERSITY IN 1846 BEFORE SETTLING UPON ITS PRESENT MONIKER IN 1890.
12. DARTMOUTH COLLEGE – HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE
DARTMOUTH COLLEGE HAS BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS BEFITTING A PRESTIGIOUS IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL. INDEED, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER IS SAID TO HAVE REMARKED OF DARTMOUTH’S CAMPUS, “THIS IS WHAT A COLLEGE IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.” TREES AND VERDANT SPACES ARE EVERYWHERE ON THE MAIN CAMPUS, WHICH IS TUCKED INTO 269 ACRES OF RURAL HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. AT THE SITE’S CENTER, DARTMOUTH GREEN IS A LOVELY GRASSY AREA IN WHICH TO WORK, REST AND PLAY – OR EVEN PROTEST. ELSEWHERE, EYE-CATCHING STRUCTURES ADD A TOUCH OF GRANDEUR, AND EMINENT AMONG THESE IS ROLLINS CHAPEL, CONCEIVED BY BOSTON ARCHITECT JOHN L. FAXON AND FINISHED IN 1885. STILL, ALTHOUGH DARTMOUTH’S HISTORY IS LONG AND ILLUSTRIOUS – THE SCHOOL WAS FOUNDED IN 1769 – IT HASN’T ALL BEEN PLAIN SAILING. LACK OF FUNDS WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, WHEN CAMPUS AND FACULTY WERE REJUVENATED – HELPING DARTMOUTH BECOME THE RESPECTED ACADEMIC INSTITUTION IT IS TODAY.
14. STANFORD UNIVERSITY – STANFORD, CALIFORNIA
VISITORS TO STANFORD UNIVERSITY’S 8,180-ACRE STANFORD, CALIFORNIA CAMPUS ARE GREETED IN SPLENDOR WHEN THEY HEAD THROUGH PALM DRIVE TO ITS MAIN QUAD. HERE, LINES OF TREES GIVE WAY TO EXPANSES OF LUSH LAWN AND ATTRACTIVE FLOWERBEDS. AT THE HEAD OF THE QUAD IS WHAT STANFORD ITSELF DESCRIBES AS “THE UNIVERSITY’S ARCHITECTURAL CROWN JEWEL,” THE STANFORD MEMORIAL CHURCH. THE CHURCH WAS CONCEIVED BY BOSTON-BASED SHEPLEY, RUTAN AND COOLIDGE (NOW SHEPLEY BULFINCH) ARCHITECT CHARLES A. COOLIDGE AND WAS FINISHED IN 1903. ROMANESQUE AND BYZANTINE DETAILS ABOUND, AND THE GLORIOUS, MULTICOLORED MOSAIC ON THE FACADE WAS DESIGNED BY ITALIAN FIRM SALVIATI & CO. STANFORD UNIVERSITY WAS SET UP IN 1885, WITH THE GENERAL DESIGN OF ITS CAMPUS COMING COURTESY OF NOTABLE BOSTON LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED.
16. YALE UNIVERSITY – NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
ALONG WITH PRINCETON AND BITTER FOOTBALL RIVAL HARVARD, YALE UNIVERSITY IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE “BIG THREE” AMERICAN SCHOOLS AND IS AMONG THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S. IT STANDS TO REASON, THEN, THAT YALE HAS A SUITABLY SPLENDID 837-ACRE CAMPUS TO MATCH ITS EXCELLENT REPUTATION FOR ACADEMICS. THE GROUNDS ARE PACKED FULL OF AWE-INSPIRING STRUCTURES, LIKE THE RICHLY DECORATED GOTHIC REVIVAL-STYLE STERLING MEMORIAL LIBRARY. CONCEIVED BY AMERICAN ARCHITECT JAMES GAMBLE ROGERS AND COMPLETED IN 1931, THE LIBRARY IS INTRICATELY DETAILED INSIDE AND OUT, WITH RELIEFS, GARGOYLES AND THOUSANDS OF STAINED-GLASS WINDOWPANES. YALE’S HISTORY DATES BACK TO 1701, WHEN IT WAS FOUNDED AS THE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL; HOWEVER, IT DIDN’T MOVE TO ITS PRESENT NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT LOCATION UNTIL 1718, AT WHICH POINT IT BECAME YALE COLLEGE – EVENTUALLY BEING RENAMED YALE UNIVERSITY IN 1887.
19. PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY – MALIBU, CALIFORNIA
WITH SPECTACULAR VIEWS ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN, MALIBU, CALIFORNIA-BASED PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY IS THE PLACE TO BE FOR ANYONE WHO LOVES THE WATER. PALM TREES DOTTED ABOUT ITS MAIN 830-ACRE CAMPUS ADD A TOUCH OF THE TROPICAL, WHILE THE GROUNDS ARE ALSO GRACED WITH MEDITERRANEAN REVIVAL-ESQUE BUILDINGS RESPLENDENT WITH WHITE-COLORED STUCCO AND RED-TILED ROOFS. THESE STRUCTURES, ALONG WITH MUCH OF THE REST OF THE SITE, WERE THE WORK OF LOS ANGELES ARCHITECT WILLIAM PEREIRA. MOREOVER, SUCH IS THEIR CHARM THAT THEY HAVE HELPED TO EARN PEPPERDINE THE PRESTIGIOUS NUMBER ONE SPOT ON THE PRINCETON REVIEW’S RANKING OF MOST ATTRACTIVE UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES IN BOTH 2006 AND 2007. THE SCHOOL WAS ACTUALLY FOUNDED IN LOS ANGELES IN 1937 BUT MOVED TO MALIBU AFTER THE NEW CAMPUS WAS DEVELOPED, OPENING THERE FOR STUDENT ENROLLMENT IN 1972.
29. DUKE UNIVERSITY – DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA
TRAVEL + LEISURE HAS DESCRIBED DUKE UNIVERSITY’S WEST CAMPUS AS A “COLLEGIATE GOTHIC WONDERLAND,” THANKS TO ITS AWE-INSPIRING ARRAY OF MAJESTIC BUILDINGS. PERHAPS THE GRANDEST OF THEM ALL IS DUKE CHAPEL, WHICH SEEMS TO PIERCE THE SKY WITH ITS QUARTET OF SPIRES – A TOWERING LANDMARK ON THE 8,470-ACRE GROUNDS OF THE DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA-SITUATED UNIVERSITY. THE 210-FOOT MARVEL WAS THE WORK OF PHILADELPHIAN JULIAN ABELE, HEAD ARCHITECT AT LOCAL FIRM HORACE TRUMBAUER AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION. THE EDIFICE BEARS ALL THE HALLMARKS OF THE ELEGANT COLLEGIATE GOTHIC STYLE – SUCH AS POINTED ARCHES AND OVERSIZED STONES – AS WELL AS A BELL TOWER THAT ATTRACTIVELY COMBINES BOTH NORTH CAROLINIAN STONE AND LIMESTONE TRIM. THE CHAPEL WAS COMPLETED IN 1932 AND STILL ACTS AS A PLACE OF WORSHIP FOR DUKE’S STUDENT BODY TODAY.
31. LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE – PORTLAND, OREGON
SET AT THE TOP OF A HILL AND SURROUNDED BY PLENTIFUL WOODS, LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE’S CAMPUS HAS A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL SCENERY PACKED INTO ITS 137 ACRES. THE PORTLAND, OREGON-LOCATED SCHOOL IS FOCUSED AROUND THE QUAINT, RATHER RUSTIC-LOOKING FRANK MANOR HOUSE, WHICH WAS DESIGNED BY LOCAL ARCHITECT HERMAN BROOKMAN AND ORIGINALLY COMPLETED IN 1924 AS A MANSION WITH 35 ROOMS. THE INSTITUTION PURCHASED THE SURROUNDING ESTATE IN 1942, AROUND THE TIME THAT IT BECAME LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE. TODAY, THE TUDOR-STYLE MANOR HOUSE STILL ACTS AS A STUNNING CORNERSTONE OF THE CAMPUS, REPLETE WITH ITS OWN CONSTRUCTED WATERFALL AND REFLECTION POOL ON THE REAR TERRACE. LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE WAS OFFICIALLY ESTABLISHED IN ALBANY, OREGON IN 1867 AS ALBANY COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, SWITCHING LOCATIONS TO PORTLAND IN 1938.
39. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL – CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL IS A HAVEN FOR NATURE-LOVERS THANKS TO ITS STUNNING BOTANICAL GARDEN, WHICH IS SPREAD ACROSS AROUND 700 ACRES. THERE, STUDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE CAN BASK IN THE SURROUNDING BEAUTY WHILE ENJOYING THE GARDEN’S 14 COLLECTIONS – HOME TO THOUSANDS OF VARIETIES OF PLANT LIFE, INCLUDING SOME CARNIVOROUS SPECIES. LOVELY ARCHITECTURE ALSO GRACES THE 729-ACRE CAMPUS PROPER, NOT LEAST THE FAMOUS OLD WELL, A NEOCLASSICAL ROTUNDA THAT IS SAID TO BESTOW GOOD LUCK ON ALL THOSE WHO SIP FROM ITS WATER FOUNTAIN. THE WELL WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF PREVIOUS SCHOOL REGISTRAR EUGENE LEWIS HARRIS AND WAS COMPLETED IN 1897. MOREOVER, IT IS NOW DESIGNATED AN AMERICAN SOCIETY OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS’ NATIONAL LANDMARK FOR OUTSTANDING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE. ONE OF THE EARLIEST PUBLIC TERTIARY SCHOOLS TO BE FOUNDED IN THE U.S., THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL WAS SET UP IN 1789.
46. ROLLINS COLLEGE – WINTER PARK, FLORIDA
STUNNING LAKE VIRGINIA IS ONLY A STONE’S THROW AWAY FROM THE 80-ACRE CAMPUS OF ROLLINS COLLEGE IN WINTER PARK, FLORIDA. AND IN KEEPING WITH THE WARM CLIMATE OF THE AREA – THE AVERAGE HIGH RARELY DROPS BELOW 70° F THROUGHOUT THE YEAR – THE GROUNDS ARE PACKED FULL OF SPANISH MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE BUILDINGS AND EVEN BOAST AN OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL. ONE FINE STRUCTURE IN PARTICULAR BUCKS THE ARCHITECTURAL TREND, THOUGH: PINEHURST COTTAGE. CONCEIVED BY VERMONT-BORN GEORGE D. RAND, THE COTTAGE ADDS RUSTIC SPLENDOR THANKS TO ITS WOODEN WALLS AND RAFTERS. PINEHURST WAS COMPLETED IN 1886, BECOMING THE SECOND BUILDING ON CAMPUS AFTER THE COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED THE PREVIOUS YEAR. IT IS NOW THE OLDEST STRUCTURE STILL STANDING AT THE INSTITUTION. BACK WHEN, AS NOW, IT SERVED AS A DORMITORY – ALTHOUGH IT WAS ORIGINALLY FOR WOMEN ONLY, WHEREAS NOW IT’S CO-ED.
49. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER – BOULDER, COLORADO
MANY OF THE BUILDINGS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER OWE THEIR DISTINCTIVE APPEARANCE TO CHARLES KLAUDER. THE PHILADELPHIA-BORN ARCHITECT THREW OFF THE INSTITUTION’S PREVIOUSLY ESTABLISHED COLLEGIATE GOTHIC STYLE TO CREATE A MORE NATURAL, SOMEWHAT RUGGED BUT STILL BEAUTIFUL LOOK FOR THE MAIN BOULDER CAMPUS. KLAUDER’S DESIGNS ARE WHAT HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO AS TUSCAN VERNACULAR REVIVAL, WITH LOCAL SANDSTONE, LIMESTONE EMBELLISHMENTS AND ROOFS OF RED TILE USED TO VISUALLY MAGNIFICENT EFFECT. SOME SPLENDID, MORE TRADITIONAL LOOKING STRUCTURES DO REMAIN, THOUGH. MOST NOTABLE AMONG THESE IS HISTORIC OLD MAIN – THE FIRST BUILDING ON CAMPUS – DESIGNED BY ERASTUS H. DIMICK AND COMPLETED IN 1876, THE YEAR OF THE SCHOOL’S ESTABLISHMENT. THE CITY OF BOULDER ITSELF NESTLES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS FOOTHILLS, ENSURING THERE ARE OUTSTANDING VIEWS FOR MILES AROUND OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGE’S PEAKS.
57. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY – LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
SITTING AMONG LOS ANGELES’ DEL REY HILLS, LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY HAS ORIGINS THAT DATE BACK TO 1865, WHEN ITS PREDECESSOR, THE CATHOLIC ST. VINCENT’S COLLEGE, WAS FORMED. IN 1911 THIS INSTITUTION WAS FOLDED INTO LOS ANGELES COLLEGE, WITH THE SCHOOL ATTAINING UNIVERSITY DESIGNATION IN 1930, A YEAR AFTER MOVING TO ITS CURRENT LOCATION IN WESTCHESTER BY L.A.’S WEST SIDE. IT WASN’T UNTIL 1973 THAT THE COLLEGE AMALGAMATED WITH MARYMOUNT COLLEGE. THE ELEGANT SACRED HEART CHAPEL – ONE OF SEVERAL HIGHLIGHTS ON THE 150-ACRE CAMPUS – PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY’S RELIGIOUS ROOTS AND CONTINUING CATHOLIC AFFILIATION. THIS 1955 SPANISH GOTHIC-STYLE STRUCTURE DAZZLES INSIDE WITH ITS MULTI-HUED STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS, MARBLE AND CONCRETE PILLARS, AND IMPRESSIVE CHANDELIERS.
60. SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY – DALLAS, TEXAS
ACCORDING TO ITS OFFICIAL WEBSITE, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY “OFFERS THE TRANQUILITY OF A 164-ACRE SUBURBAN CAMPUS WITH NEO-GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE, SPACIOUS LAWNS AND TREE-LINED WALKWAYS.” WHILE THE SCHOOL RECEIVED ITS CHARTER IN 1911, IT WASN’T UNTIL 1915 THAT CLASSES COMMENCED – AROUND THE EXACT SAME TIME THAT ITS INAUGURAL BUILDING, THE MAGNIFICENT DALLAS HALL, WAS DEDICATED. THE BRAINCHILD OF BOSTON-BASED ARCHITECTS SHEPLEY, RUTAN AND COOLIDGE, THE GRAND GEORGIAN STYLE OF THE DESIGN WAS BASED ON THE HISTORIC – AND EQUALLY BEAUTIFUL – ROTUNDA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA. TODAY, THE HALL REMAINS A CHIEF LANDMARK OF THE SCHOOL’S ATTRACTIVE MAIN CAMPUS IN DALLAS’ UNIVERSITY PARK.
63. BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY – PROVO, UTAH
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY’S IMMACULATELY GROOMED CAMPUS HAS SEEN THE PROVO, UTAH-BASED SCHOOL DUBBED “THE DISNEYLAND OF AMERICAN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,” AS REPORTED BY SALT LAKE CITY PUBLICATION THE DESERET NEWS. WHAT’S MORE, ALTHOUGH OF COURSE THERE ARE NO ROLLER COASTERS TO BE FOUND ON THE SCHOOL’S GROUNDS, STUDENTS CAN ENJOY SPLENDID VIEWS OF THE NEARBY WASATCH MOUNTAINS. LIKEWISE, THE CAREFULLY CULTIVATED IMMEDIATE GREEN SURROUNDINGS OUGHT TO BE A DRAW FOR ANYONE WHO APPRECIATES BEAUTY IN ABUNDANCE. THE INSTITUTION WAS EVEN NAMED TOP OF ITS CLASS IN THE CAMPUS CATEGORY OF THE AMERICA IN BLOOM COMPETITION IN 2005. DEDICATED IN 1975, THE CARILLON BELL TOWER IS ANOTHER SIGHT TO BEHOLD, WITH THE 90-FOOT-TALL STRUCTURE THE WORK OF MARKHAM & MARKHAM ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS. BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1875 AND IN 1904 ACQUIRED A 17-ACRE AREA OF ITS CURRENT SITE, WHICH HAS SINCE EXPANDED TO AROUND 560 ACRES.