University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Building Traditions No matter how high tech our society be- comes, Texas will always be endowed with its rich heritage. The University of Texas has sought to reflect the culture of the Lone Star State through its songs, symbols and, more visibly, through its unique architecture. Many campus buildings are graced with Texas symbols. Brackenridge Dormitory is emblazoned with symbols such as barbed wire, a longhorn and a Bowie knife. Even in the days of super colliders, these symbols are still revered and recognized by students. As Tom Pollard, humanities junior, said, It ' s still the Texas myth. You can ' t kill the cow- boy image. It ' s our culture. Symbols of the Confederacy, however, are not represented in the architecture, although legend has it that all the original buildings faced south in compliance with the wishes of an early UT benefactor and ex-Confederate soldier George W. Littlefield. For college campuses, architects choose styles that reflect the values and lifestyles of the students and faculty. Students find some buildings more conducive to learning simply because they find an atmosphere to which they can relate. A campus should be humane, Richard Garcia, post-professional in architecture, said. It should be for people and not build- ings or statements. Cass Gilbert, the designer of Battle Hall, ushered in the style now so prevalent on campus. It included Spanish elements such as delicate stone carvings, iron railings and red tile roofs to give students a sense of Texas heritage. As a result, we have what you might call a Spanish Renaissance or Med- iterranean style of architecture, Blake Al- exander, professor of architecture, said. This was soon adopted as the major style for campus buildings. Later, architect Paul Cret assimilated the Spanish Renaissance into his designs for the Main Building and the Tower. Cret studied the Beaux-Arts style of architecture in his native France, not at Rice University as popular belief held. Any resemblance between the Tower and an owl, the Rice University mascot, was unintention- al. The Spanish Renaissance was only slightly represented in later buildings. The modern styles tended to rely less on symbolism and more on function, as was evident in the Per- ry-Casteneda Library. Even so, the modern buildings appeal to many students. I like the combination of modern and classical types, Patty Overmyer, electrical engineering junior, said. There are a lot of new people that have modern ideas. This University is so diverse, it ' s kind of sym- bolic. Architects who planned an addition for Goldsmith Hall sought to complement the Spanish Renaissance style of the older build- ing. They designed a structure that bor- rowed many elements from this style but still reflected contemporary trends. The building reopened in Fall 1988 and students respond- ed favorably. There ' s a theme in the campus that was begun, a sort of language, Beth Barnes, post-professional in architecture, said. This building (Goldsmith Hall) sort of plays off that language. It doesn ' t duplicate it exactly. It updates it. If this style continues, future buildings might once again reflect the culture through specific symbols and styles. With Texas tak- ing a prominent place in the high tech world of the late 1980s, it should be interesting to see how new values and lifestyles are rep- resented in future additions to the campus. Wes Reeves The past meets the future in architectural trends around campus, and the results give the University a style all its own The tower at night photo by Ken White Architecture 23

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SPANISH HERITAGE: Remi- niscent of Spanish missions in early Texas history, Battle Hall catches the eye with intricate iron work and stone carvings. MODERN STYLE: Reflecting the diversity of modern Univer- sity students, the Perry-Cas- teneda Library and the Univer- sity Teaching Center overshad- ow a busy area of campus with massive walls and sharp angles. OLD AND NEW: Goldsmith Hall demonstrates a blending of architectural styles. The build- ing ' s renovation in 1988, includ- ed elements of the Spanish Re- naissance as well as contemorary trends. photos by Robert Kirkham , -; ' . ItoanpuibJfac Tvtbok hdar ' ,. ' ..; ' . ' ' .: ' . boiimif It ' swolw MWtvT 1 -: id ),..., ., feteilsoiiitiincoo(ila aneirHTbeKfori CwrjtW.Lnkf Si aitf tkrittandtah ?wttd, It should bt fa, w c 22 Architecture

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LAUGHING MATTER: Comedian Pat Paulsen and for- mer President Gerald Ford share a joke at a speech in the Performing Arts Center. photo by Ted Warren. ON FOR- EIGN POLICY: Former U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpa- trick addresses students at the Bass Concert Hall. photo by Carrie Dawson. OPPOSING VIEW: Mic Paschel, sociology senior, leads a protest against Jeane Kirkpatrick. Paschel and others opposed the cost and the timing of Kirkpatrick ' s speech, which was given several weeks before the pres- idential election. photo by Carrie Dawson 24 Guest speakers