# The most aesthetically pleasing university campus **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 27, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184 "2005-02-27T21:10:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/1 "2005-02-27T21:10:29Z")
I have visited probably close to 100 campuses in my travels. My choices would probably be … Wisconsin Chicago Harvard Colorado ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/2 "2005-02-27T21:12:21Z")
I’ve been to a lot, too, and I agree with your choices. I’d add Virginia. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/3 "2005-02-27T21:55:55Z")
> [@ccwaterback](#): > > I have visited probably close to 100 campuses in my travels. My choices would probably be … > > Wisconsin > Chicago > Harvard > Colorado Sorry for hijacking this… but… Do you know how many people choose a university based on the physical appearance of the campus? It drives universities to spend money, LOTS of money on projects that have nothing to do with education. Bah. Drives me crazy. Stop appreciating this money wastefulness! Sorry. As for the OP… which Wisconsin or Colorado? ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/4 "2005-02-27T22:14:19Z")
Well technically it’s a college but - [Wellesley College](http://www.wellesley.edu/Welcome/Seasons/fallvignettes.html) is gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/5 "2005-02-27T22:15:16Z")
> [@BoringDad](#): > > Sorry for hijacking this… but… Do you know how many people choose a university based on the physical appearance of the campus? It drives universities to spend money, LOTS of money on projects that have nothing to do with education. Bah. Drives me crazy. Stop appreciating this money wastefulness! > Sorry. > > As for the OP… which Wisconsin or Colorado? I believe these campuses are pretty much the same as when they were built. So, I don’t think any “new” money is going into their aesthetics, at least not more than any other schools. If I said U of Wisconsin, what town would come to mind first? Ditto U of Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![pasunejen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/58956e/32.png) [@pasunejen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pasunejen)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/6 "2005-02-27T22:16:52Z")
Boston University! Ahahahaha. No. Actually, I found Princeton to be particularly attractive, and most of UChicago is really nice. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/7 "2005-02-27T22:27:06Z")
In Montreal, I really like McGill’s setting, a large swath of parkland smack int he middle of downtown; and our [Arts building](http://upload.mcgill.ca/administration/P5310034-arts.jpg), [Redpath Library](http://cac.mcgill.ca/campus/pictures/icc/redlib1.gif), [Islamic Studies Library](http://upload.mcgill.ca/islamic-library/readingoutside.jpg), [Redpath Museum](http://www.archives.mcgill.ca/pictures/ps034632.gif), [Birks Building](http://upload.mcgill.ca/birks/outside.jpg), and [Royal Victoria Hospital](http://www.psych.mcgill.ca/labs/mvr/Pictures/rvh.gif) are quite attractive. Unfortunately, several buildings (including the McLennan Library, Leacock Building, Shatner Building, and _shudder_ Burnside Building) are vintage 60s brutalist horror. ---
**Author:** ![laurelann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5daacb/32.png) [@laurelann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laurelann)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/8 "2005-02-27T22:29:12Z")
I agree that Wellesley is beautiful, my best friend is a student there. It’s so…majestic. I don’t like the science building though. Tower (I think that’s what those dorms are called…) is beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@Kilvert\_s\_Pagan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilvert_s_Pagan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/9 "2005-02-27T22:31:00Z")
Indiana University in Bloomington is pretty, at least in central campus. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/10 "2005-02-27T22:31:46Z")
Even 10 years after graduating, I still think that [Colby College](http://www.colby.edu) has a beautiful campus. One of our rivals, [Bowdoin](http://www.bowdoin.edu/) also has a beautiful campus, from what I remember from a visit or two during four years. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/11 "2005-02-27T22:36:22Z")
> [@Kilvert's Pagan](#): > > Indiana University in Bloomington is pretty, at least in central campus. Yes, that’s one I forget to mention. I was very impressed (surprised) with the aesthetics of Indiana U. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/12 "2005-02-27T22:39:20Z")
I would vote for Dartmouth (where I went to graduate school) or the University of Virginia (for its general beauty and architecture). ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/13 "2005-02-27T22:43:00Z")
The campus of the University of Queensland on the Brisbane River at St Lucia is pretty stunning. For best overall views, I’d nominate Victoria University of Wellington. ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/14 "2005-02-27T22:52:59Z")
Well…Oxford. Or do we have to stick to America? If so I was going to say: > [@pasunejen](#): > > Actually, I found Princeton to be particularly attractive. And I still think so. Although when I took my Oxford grad SO there he was couldn’t stop laughing at the confluence of archtecheral styles…many of them dating from before Princeton was a town let alone a college. And of course I have to mention my alma mater, NYU. Well, the campus is lower Manhattan, the most beautiful place on Earth 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/15 "2005-02-27T23:08:44Z")
Can I make a recommendation on behalf of a friend who doesn’t frequent the board? St Andrews. A wonderful place. It’s got the ‘ye olde wolde’ aspect, without the tourists. It’s got the North Sea (which is perfect for sunrises, should you want to see them). Aggghg, I chose to go to Manchester… ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/16 "2005-02-27T23:46:35Z")
Well, I’d have to nominate my school, St. John’s College, both campuses. The Annapolis one is nice, cute, waterfront property, big sprawling laws, etc. The Santa Fe campus is literally built into a mountain, all adobe, and a huge amount of our acreage literally borders on a nature preserve. Also, [Warren Wilson](http://www.warren-wilson.edu/main/) college is jaw-droppingly beautiful. I applied there, and when my mom and I drove onto the campus to visit, we had some bluegrass music playing inthe car - it literally felt like we were in a PBS documentary. ---
**Author:** ![WeRSauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@WeRSauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WeRSauron)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/17 "2005-02-27T23:48:49Z")
Northwestern University, in Evanston, IL (just above Chicago), has a gorgeous campus, especially down Sheridan. Some of the buildings are very nice too. WRS ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/18 "2005-02-27T23:50:18Z")
I will put in votes for Duke University and for Oxford. I looooved the Harvard University bookstore, but I didn’t really see the aesthetics as setting any records. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/19 "2005-02-28T00:59:25Z")
I’d go with Siena College, where I work, and American University, where my daughter goes to school. Lots of green, nice harmony among buildings. AU also feels very cozy due to its small size. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2005, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184/20 "2005-02-28T01:47:38Z")
> [@laurelann](#): > > I agree that Wellesley is beautiful, my best friend is a student there. It’s so…majestic. I don’t like the science building though. Tower (I think that’s what those dorms are called…) is beautiful. Wow! I agree. Another stunner, different setting: Pepperdine, in Malibu, CA [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-aesthetically-pleasing-university-campus/292184.md?page=2)