Written by Samuel Mauri | Posted October 2024
Boston University’s sprawling urban campuses are home to stunning architecture, public art, and iconic local landmarks. Here are some of BU’s gems just begging to be the backdrop (or subject) of your next Instagram photoshoot!
Did we miss your favorite spot on campus? Let us know by posting a photo and tagging @BUAlumni on Instagram!
1. Marsh Plaza
Located at the heart of BU’s Charles River campus, Marsh Plaza is home to three Terrier landmarks: The BU Seal, Free at Last by Sergio Castillo, and, of course, Marsh Chapel! From graduation portraits to stunning sunsets, nowhere on campus is as quintessentially BU as Marsh Plaza.
2. Dahod Family Alumni Center
Also known as the BU Castle, the Dahod Family Alumni Center is an extraordinary Tudor Revival mansion on Bay State Road. It’s one of Boston’s hidden gems, just beyond the bustle of the city and overlooking the Charles River. The Castle is as photogenic inside as it is from Bay State and, as an added bonus, it’s also home to Fuller’s BU Pub!
3. The Rhett Bench
Sitting on a bench between BU Beach and the Alan and Sherry Leventhal Admissions Center, our beloved mascot welcomes passersby to sit, snap a selfie, and share their Terrier pride. The sculpture was donated by the BU Alumni Council, and has become one of the most popular places to take photos on campus.
4. The BU Beach
Speaking of the BU Beach, this list wouldn’t be complete without everyone’s favorite BU hangout spot! With a great view of the Charles River, easy access to the Esplanade, and Russell Jacques’ iconic Point Counterpoint statue, there’s a reason people flock to the BU Beach.
5. The Center for Computing & Data Sciences
If you’re looking for the best vantage point in Boston, look no further than BU’s Center for Computing and Data Sciences! The 19-story LEED Platinum-certified building on Comm Ave stands tall above campus and offers 360 degrees of breathtaking Boston views.
6. The BU Bridge
From high above the Charles, the BU Bridge offers one of the best views of campus from the river. An ideal spot to watch the Head of the Charles Regatta, it is also one of just three places in the world where a boat can row under a train running under a car driven under an airplane!
7. The BU Sign on Nickerson Field
Nickerson Field has a long and storied history. It was once home to the Boston Braves (now the Atlanta Braves) and the site where Babe Ruth signed his last professional contract. BU’s iconic ivy wall is also the perfect backdrop for any photo opportunity!
8. Bay State Road
Anyone who has stepped foot on campus knows Bay State Road. Just a block from Comm Ave, Bay State feels a world away. Flanked by classic New England brownstones and covered by a canopy of shade trees, it’s impossible to take a bad photo on Bay State—especially during the spring or fall!
9. The Questrom School of Business Lobby
Walk into the Rafik B. Hariri Building, and you’re met with another one of BU’s iconic art installations: Earth Orbit. The massive globe sits in the middle of the Questrom School of Business lobby, surrounded by dozens of flags representing the nationalities and regions of Questrom’s global community.
10. The BU Talbot Building
Constructed in 1876, the School of Public Health’s Talbot Building is a stunning and well-preserved example of High Victorian Gothic architecture that remains eye-catching nearly 150 years later. A BUMC security officer, Michael McCrae-Hastings, said it best: “They don’t make buildings like this anymore.”
11. Booth Theater
The Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre is a state-of-the-art performing arts venue and learning environment—it is also an architectural marvel. Listed among the best new architectural structures around the globe, Booth is a must for anyone trying to curate the perfect BU photo essay.
12. COM Lawn
If you are a COM alum, this spot needs no introduction. With brightly colored Adirondack chairs, crisscrossing footpaths, seasonal gardens, and a sculpted granite fountain providing a natural soundtrack of flowing water to contrast the hustle and bustle of Commonwealth Avenue, the COM lawn is picturesque year-round.