Penn’s campus provides us with the best of both worlds: old yet new, historic yet modern, elegant yet hip. But is it really possible to wear a gown with biker boots? A vest with ripped jeans? A tie with sunglasses and a beanie? Sure! It is this contrast between the traditional and the up–and–coming that transforms campus into a world of its own—castles (and Castle) share ground with glass buildings in a unique blend that, much like Penn’s students, demonstrates our diversity. But how much difference in aesthetic appeal can we handle? Is Penn’s campus schizophrenic? College Hall is a grand structure that seems to command respect. The serpentine stones of green neighbor courses of white and brownstone, creating a pallet that is earthy and classy. The design is of the more conventional “Geometric Gothic” tracery, a key indicator of design before and after the Civil War. The building stands in such a way that it respects the paths combining Locust Walk and Woodland Avenue by blending naturally with the rest of the campus scenery.
Some of us can’t help but think, “...what?” when we look at Van Pelt. Amidst a campus full of sexy and sophisticated colors, stones, shapes, spires, arched windowpanes and intricate designs, we see a large, brown rectangle. VP, architecturally speaking, doesn’t have it going on. Some would say this building clashes and detracts from the beauty of the rest of our campus—as if someone tried a little too hard to place a modern–type building on campus that ended up (pun intended) too square. We have glimpses of modern designs throughout Penn that are absolutely in sync with our campus layout and architectural spectrum. The Singh Center for Nanotechnology is an example of modern minimalism done right: the building’s glass walls are accented by bright pops of orange, a color that radiates warmth and happiness as well as eccentricity and energy. This modern appeal is a demonstration of the architectural feats attainable by our innovation. After all, architecture, like art, can be done in so many different ways. Penn welcomes all artistry and creativity, and from it, creates our home away from home. It's weird, but it's ours.
