Describe Chicago's layout, appearance, and structure

Colleges & Universities University of Chicago
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<p>I have a plan for an essay, but I need to know how Chicago looks. Basically how is the architecture (I know it’s Gothic)? People say it looks like Hogwarts, but to what extent? Since it is Gothic, is it castle-like? Are there many buildings? Many open spaces? ect.</p>

<p>Chicago remains my top choice, and so don’t worry, I am going to visit it very shortly. But I have to finish the essay this month, and so I don’t have time to visit on such short notice. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p><a href=“gradprofiles.com domain name is for sale. Inquire now.”>gradprofiles.com domain name is for sale. Inquire now.;
<a href=“http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/rockefeller-memorial-chapel-chicago-ilch239.jpg[/url]”>http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/rockefeller-memorial-chapel-chicago-ilch239.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
<a href=“http://www.ada.gov/5yearadarpt/images/u_chicago01.jpg[/url]”>http://www.ada.gov/5yearadarpt/images/u_chicago01.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>i guess you could take a walk around campus at google street view</p>

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<p>Here are some pictures I took during my visit in [September</a> 2010](<a href=“http://www.troovi.com/SURRa0Bc04y1/]September”>http://www.troovi.com/SURRa0Bc04y1/)</p>

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<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>Can you guys also describe how things are there. Like how are the dorms and the dinning halls.</p>

<p>And what are the names of the more Gothic buildings? More modern buildings?</p>

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<p>I don’t know if this will help much, but these are photos I took earlier this quarter while I was procrastinating on a lab report. Some aren’t the greatest quality, I’m sorry. If you have any questions, you can message me. </p>

<p>Good luck with your essay! </p>

<p>[The</a> University of Chicago in the fall. - a set on Flickr](<a href=“http://■■■■■■■.com/29x92hk]The”>The University of Chicago in the fall. | Flickr)</p>

<p>And if you check out the following link, you can see what the dorms look like, except for my glorious home South Campus.</p>

<p><a href=“https://blogs.uchicago.edu/collegeadmissions/dorm_of_the_day/[/url]”>https://blogs.uchicago.edu/collegeadmissions/dorm_of_the_day/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>This does a decent job at showing some of the named buildings on campus:</p>

<p><a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/multimedia/videos/tour.shtml[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/multimedia/videos/tour.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>You might also want to check out this slideshow: </p>

<p><a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/multimedia/explore.shtml[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/multimedia/explore.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Enjoy your visit!</p>

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<p>I propose we turn this thread into a spontaneous photo-dump of the beauty that is UChicago :).</p>

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<p>Try this link:</p>

<p>[Justin</a> Kern | A Slideshow | The University of Chicago](<a href=“http://www.uchicago.edu/features/20101101_kern_slideshow.shtml]Justin”>http://www.uchicago.edu/features/20101101_kern_slideshow.shtml)</p>

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<p>^ Nice !</p>

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<p>@J’adoube: Those pictures are so awesome! do you know if there is a way I can copy any of them to make it my wallpaper?</p>

<p>Also, can you guys now list things about the U of C that you consider quirky? Including awesome clubs or facilities.</p>

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<p>Boy, have I got the link for you.</p>

<p><a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/multimedia/wallpapers.shtml[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/multimedia/wallpapers.shtml&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Can’t help you there shadowzoid.</p>

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<p>Its ok. I figured it out. You just enlarged, then “print screen,” then paste onto paint, then make wallpaper (in case anyone else wanted to do it)</p>

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<p>Perhaps a little dose of reality: What the University is looks like right now…
[IT</a> Services: Webcams](<a href=“Not Found - IT Service Portal”>Not Found - IT Service Portal)</p>

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<p>It looks ancient, but it’s funny because you can tell the building material (Indiana limestone, if I remember correctly) is not so old. I’ve never seen pics of Ida Noyes posted up but it’s easily one of the most beautiful spots on campus. It’s to the south, east of Rockefeller Chapel and north of South Campus and BJ. It has the trademark Gothic castle look with spires and half-outdoor corridors with the long, thin, glass-less windows (the back part, anyway). Indoors you see a chandelier and a grand old staircase. At the top floor is the ballroom, which is awesome mainly due to the fact that the walls are painted to look like a medieval tapestry. It even has the university painted into one of the sides like it’s some kind of age old landmark. lol </p>

<p>They say the Rockefeller chapel is non-denominational; it looks very Catholic. At the front doorway you may notice carved figures standing with their hands on top of swords. Somewhat LOTR-like. Inside, the ceiling is extra-extra vaulted. The stained glass windows aren’t spectacular. Actually, they’re kind of bland. They’re pastel-colored with the highlight being the window at the center end, with the top corner depicting a flaming sun. The ceiling looks like it’s gold-plated in some places and has tiles showing what I think are Catholic saints. It’s shiny. The best part is at the back (where you entered from), where you see the curving row of English horns. These emit the well, horn sounds when the organ is played. At random intervals you hear the carillon playing from the bell tower. I’ve heard it as far back as from just outside Bartlett. You could say it has a hypnotic quality to it. Occasionally I just end up walking towards Rockefeller regardless of where I was actually going.
[Rockefeller</a> Memorial Chapel | The University of Chicago](<a href=“http://rockefeller.uchicago.edu/architecture/exterior.shtml]Rockefeller”>http://rockefeller.uchicago.edu/architecture/exterior.shtml)</p>

<p>The few times I’ve actually strolled around the quad for no reason other than to stroll around, I’ve been struck by how desolate it looks, especially in the winter. Once the branches lose their leaves, the place has a dead, particularly Gothic quality that makes it strangely even more charming than when it’s green. Looking at Snell-Hitchcock from Ellis Av. (I guess east of of the quad), it looks like a swarm of bats are about to come over the rooftops. Actually, I’ve seen a flock of birds do that, and it had about the same effect. Anyway, in the quad. The buildings are usually covered by ivy so it looks especially weird when the ivy branches are bare. The squirrels are omnipresent. The dark branches make an excellent contrast against the gray stone. I can’t really explain it. It’s like a lost civilization in a tropical jungle gone dry after a sudden and drastic climate change that turned it cold and windy. :slight_smile: The quad does look somewhat like a jungle in the summer.</p>

<p>Bond chapel, located in the main quad next to Cobb, is underrated. It has the same little walkway thing with the narrow windows cut into stone that you see in the back end of Ida Noyes. Inside, it’s dimly lit, but the stained glass is spectacular. In the ceilings you have angels staring down at you, and okay, it’s spooky. The stained glass (from what I remember) are largely dark red in color, that combined with the dim light and the angels make for a pretty strange atmosphere.
<a href=“http://farm3.static.■■■■■■■■■■/2045/2061823586_e83a2293a9.jpg[/url]”>http://farm3.static.■■■■■■■■■■/2045/2061823586_e83a2293a9.jpg&lt;/a&gt;
[UChicago</a> Maps | Bond Chapel](<a href=“http://maps.uchicago.edu/mainquad/bond.html]UChicago”>http://maps.uchicago.edu/mainquad/bond.html)</p>

<p>Reynolds club is worth mentioning. One of the best parts is the Tower which looks best against a cloudy night sky, especially when it’s close to a storm and the sky looks kind of gray or purple. At night when waiting for the shuttle at the bus stop next to it, you can see people playing pool in the South Lounge through the windows. The other best part is the courtyard at the back, next to the Botany Bond. Again, can’t really explain it. It looks very inviting, especially at night when you can see the lights through the windows. </p>

<p>The quad mainly maintains the Gothic look, but it’s interspersed with modern buildings in random places. Pick Hall, on one corner, is, in my opinion, an eyesore. The administration building is modern. I don’t know why. West of the quad are the science buildings, which are all pretty modern. </p>

<p>Pierce hall looks like a beehive.</p>

<p>I live in Broadview. It has an early 20th century/late 19th century look I guess. It’s mainly brick with some parts of the facade carved stone. Inside, you have the lobby, with the ballroom next to it. It’s not that big, but it’s nice. The rooms are the size of an average bedroom. The building goes up to seven floors. There are two elevators; one (relatively) modern one, which breaks down from time to time. There’s an older one that requires a doorman, and it has that old-fashioned fence thing in the front you have to push open and closed every time someone gets in or off. That one is usually not in use.</p>