{"id":16010,"date":"2022-10-18T17:18:17","date_gmt":"2022-10-18T21:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/?p=16010"},"modified":"2025-04-03T08:30:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T12:30:33","slug":"blog-iconic-bu-buildings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/2022\/10\/18\/blog-iconic-bu-buildings\/","title":{"rendered":"Iconic BU buildings and their stories"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted October 2022 | Updated November 2023<\/em><\/p>\n

The BU buildings that decorate Comm. Ave not only shelter students from the unforgiving New England weather\u2014they also witness memories that will last their inhabitants a lifetime. Whether you were meeting your first roommate, pulling your first all-nighter, or taking your first class that sparked a new passion, these buildings stood with you through it all. To honor their architectural achievements and the experiences they facilitate, we\u2019re taking a moment to reflect on five of BU\u2019s most iconic buildings and their stories.<\/p>\n

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The BU Law Complex: Sumner M. Redstone Building & Law Tower<\/h2>\n

In June 2015, The BU School of Law saw the completion of its highly anticipated expansion and restoration project. The project encompassed the construction of the new Sumner M. Redstone Building<\/a>, and renovation of the existing Law Tower. Designed by Spanish architect Josep Lluis Sert (a friend of Picasso and Miro), the Law Tower was originally built in 1964, and was the first high rise building on BU\u2019s campus. After its many years of hard work training new lawyers, the Law Tower needed some serious TLC. Bruner\/Cott Architects carefully planned the new building to complement the existing Law Tower, and successfully updated the original mid-century brutalist structure while maintaining its integrity.<\/p>\n

The new Sumner M. Redstone Building is five stories tall and nearly 100,000 square feet. It houses two libraries, a dining facility and social spaces. The building boasts floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stunning views of the Charles River. The BU Law Complex was awarded LEED Gold certification for its sustainability features and was also recognized for its architectural significance by the Boston Preservation Alliance and the Massachusetts Historical Commission.<\/p>\n

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Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences<\/h2>\n

Set to open in January 2023, the Duan Family Center for Computing and Data Sciences<\/a> building has already become an iconic feature on Comm. Ave. The new building is a whopping 19 stories, 305 feet tall, 345,000 square feet, and can be seen from miles away. The CCDS is meant to resemble a stack of books\u2014its design is an ode to the transformative learning and research that will take place inside. The Toronto-based firm behind the CCDS, KPMB Architects, designed the building to represent collaboration, interconnectivity, and innovation.<\/p>\n

The dramatic new building will house the Duan Family Center Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences<\/a>, which will serve as the anchor tenant, sharing the center with the Departments of Mathematics & Statistics and Computer Science, and the renowned Rafik B. Hariri Institute for Computing and Computational Science & Engineering. Standing tall and proud, the Center for Computing and Data Sciences is a physical testament to BU\u2019s commitment to the field.<\/p>\n

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Warren Towers<\/h2>\n

Warren Towers<\/a>, BU\u2019s beloved first-year dormitory, opened its doors in 1965. Warren Towers was designed by architects Von Storch & Burkavage, who also designed buildings for Cornell University. Warren Towers is the second-largest non-military dorm in the United States, and currently houses about half of BU\u2019s freshman class.<\/p>\n

Fairfield Tower, commonly referred to as \u201cA\u201d tower, is named after BU\u2019s first president, William Fairfield Warren. Marshall Tower (B Tower) is named after President Warren\u2019s son, William Marshall Warren, the former dean of CAS. Shields Tower (C Tower) takes on the name of the president\u2019s grandson, Shields Warren, who was a medical statesman and chairman on the BU\u2019s board of trustees. Located next to the College of Communication and right across from the College of Arts and Sciences, the 18-story building is centrally placed, making it a highly desired dormitory on campus. Warren Towers provides the perfect environment for forming new friendships that will last a lifetime.<\/p>\n

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Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre<\/h2>\n

The structural presence of the Joan and Edgar Booth Theatre is every bit as captivating and lively as the performances that take place inside it. The Booth theatre was named after its donor Steve Zide\u2019s in-laws<\/a>, who introduced his theatre-loving wife, Janet, to the performing arts.<\/p>\n

The 75,000-square-foot complex was designed by Boston architectural firm Elkus Manfredi and encompasses not only the Joan and Edgar Booth Theatre, but also classrooms, design labs, production, costume shops, and a well-landscaped plaza. Built in 2018, this new building has allowed for the first time the unification of production and performance students, who had previously been housed in separate buildings.<\/p>\n

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Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground<\/h2>\n

The Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground<\/a> is Boston University’s cultural hub, intended to bring people of all different backgrounds together for the purpose of self-discovery and connection with one another. Previously housed in the basement of the George Sherman Union, the newly renovated Howard Thurman Center occupies two thirds of what was previously CFA\u2019s 808 Gallery. Before its days as a gallery, the Classical-Revivalist structure at 808 Comm. Ave was built in 1927 as a Cadillac-Oldsmobile dealership. A Cadillac insignia currently hangs on a wall of the Gathering Place off the Great Room, paying homage to the building\u2019s heritage.<\/p>\n

Designed by NBBJ, the new-and-improved Howard Thurman Center feels cozy without being cramped, and intends to capture the energy of the people who make the center unique. The HTC is now 5 times its previous size, and spans over 19,000 square feet\u2014capable of hosting thousands of students in a day. Completed in early 2020, the new Howard Thurman Center would certainly make former Marsh Chapel dean Howard Thurman proud.<\/p>\n

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Dahod Family Alumni Center, \u201cThe Castle\u201d<\/h2>\n

Located at 225 Bay State Road, the Dahod Family Alumni Center<\/a> serves as a place for alumni to meet with friends, reconnect with their alma mater, and bask in the feeling of what it\u2019s like to be back on campus. The Tudor-eclectic style mansion was originally built as the residence of the wealthy industrialist William Lindsay. It was later donated to BU in 1938, where it initially served as the residence of BU presidents and a lecture space. The Dahod Family Alumni Center, also referred to as \u201cThe Castle,\u201d was designed by Boston architectural firm Chapman & Frazer and completed in 1915.<\/p>\n

Spanning over 6,000 square feet, the Dahod is equipped with plenty of space, and just about everything a visiting alum might need. The Dahod\u2019s Victorian stone walls are home to the Tutor Library, filled with books by BU authors, event spaces for weddings and retreats, the elegant Hollowell Alumni Lounge, the recently-renovated Fuller\u2019s BU Pub on the garden level, and more. In 2018, BU Trustee Shamim Dahod and her husband generously donated $2 million to help update the 108-year-old building<\/a> with modern infrastructure, while preserving much of the structure\u2019s historic charm. The Dahod features hand-carved wooden accents, ornate Medieval-style fireplaces, and elaborate exterior stonework. And likely because of its majestic appearance, The Dahod has been featured in at least three Hollywood movies.<\/p>\n

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Marsh Chapel<\/h2>\n

Found at the very center of the lengthy Charles River Campus, Marsh Chapel is an iconic part of BU\u2019s heritage. Former president Daniel Marsh commissioned Cram & Ferguson Architects to build the chapel in 1949, and the Chapel\u2019s history is as intricate as its many stained glass windows. In BU\u2019s original campus plan, Marsh Chapel faced the Charles River<\/a>, and the 350-foot-tall Alexander Graham Bell tower soared into the sky in between. However, the city of Boston used the riverfront land to build Storrow Drive in 1950, which left no room for BU to build its tower. The road\u2019s construction also forced Marsh Chapel to flip its interior\u2019s orientation to face campus, instead of the highway. As a result, the Chapel has an unconventional layout, featuring the rose window at the front and the organ pipes behind the altarpiece.<\/p>\n

The Gothic spires and flying buttresses rising above Comm. Ave are impossible to miss, inspired by medieval cathedrals in Europe. Inside, the Chapel features impressive vaulted ceilings, a stunning organ imported from Canada, and handcrafted woodwork and stained glass around the space that depict prominent figures from religious and American history. From its creation, Marsh insisted that the chapel be a place for all religions<\/a>. The chapel now houses over 30 religious life groups and serves as the center of religious life on campus, where every student, alum, and community member is welcome.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The history and design of five iconic BU buildings: The Law Complex, CCDS, Warren Towers, Booth Theatre, and HTC.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20583,"featured_media":16019,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13,5],"tags":[1162,535,857],"featured_img":"\/alumni\/files\/2022\/10\/series-bg-01-800x600.jpg","agg_excerpt":"The history and design of five iconic BU buildings: The Law Complex, CCDS, Warren Towers, Booth Theatre, and HTC.","agg_title":"Iconic BU buildings and their stories","media_icon":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16010"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20583"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16010"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16010\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25339,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16010\/revisions\/25339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16010"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16010"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/alumni\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}