University buildings can be boring sometimes. However, some education institutions have gone against the grain to produce some rather quirky and eccentric architectural designs that will leave you longing to pack your bags now. These buildings are but a handful of university buildings that have met challenges to form and function.
Other than that, they also have salvaged historic buildings or even built new buildings that reflect the region or the mindset of the students who attend these universities. The grandiosity of these structures is justified. Their excesses, even when they involve hundreds of millions of dollars, are necessary and well worth it. These are 5 of them.
1) The Hive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Picture: Extron
The circular structures of this learning hub at Nanyang Technological University were inspired by the shape of beehives, although many have since pointed out the building’s striking resemblance to dim sum baskets. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the building was created with the university’s flipped classroom teaching method in mind, where students watch their lectures online, and then come to campus to delve deeper into their subjects in discussion-based lessons.
2) Sharp Centre for Design, Ontario College of Art and Design, Canada
Picture: Design Building Network
Built in 2004, the Sharp Centre for Design is one of Toronto’s most recognizable buildings. The striking tabletop-style, black and white tiled building rests on 12 brightly colored steel legs, each four storeys high. It also happens to be located next to the oldest building on campus, which really highlights the contrast between the two building styles.
3) West Campus Union, Duke University, US
Picture: Arch Daily
When the West Campus Union at Duke University in North Carolina needed renovating, the architects did far more than restore the original 1920s design. This glass box connects old and new, acting as a modern gateway between the neo-Gothic architecture of the original campus buildings, and serving as a central social space for students.
4) C13 building, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Poland
Picture: Wikimedia Commons
The C13 student center at Wrocław University of Science and Technology in Poland features seemingly randomly placed circular windows, making it stand out from the classical university buildings that surround it. It’s a great example of Poland’s modernist architecture and a student favorite.
5) UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Picture: Thinker Ten
Another Frank Gehry design, the UTS Business School at the University of Technology Sydney opened its doors in 2015. Critics were quick to compare it to a squashed brown paper bag, prompting Peter Cosgrove, Australia’s then governor-general, to declare it “the most beautiful squashed brown paper bag I’ve ever seen”.
Sources: The Student.
