I’d like to add, if one more person describes something as “brutalist” your child will be enrolled at Hampshire at full tuition.
Instead try… fascist determinism, post-calvinist utilitarian, Bauhaus by the blind, or post-Godzilla.
@Old_parent … Ah, your reference to Hampshire brings back the joy of the pithiest diss yet:
Hampshire: Drove in. Saw yurts. Drove out.
Still cracks me up every time!
Getting back to mean…how could I forget that I really did not like Skidmore? (Apologies to some certain CC people who I know are big fans, but you can blame the Positive Pamela’s who are waxing lyrical about things they liked and taking this thread in the wrong direction.)
Anyway, Skidmore was a big pile of nothingness. Every building looked exactly like every other building. Every kid wore a ratty flannel shirt and DM’s. (Actually, D kinda liked that.) But the main reason I didn’t like Skidmore was because when we visited the cafeteria, which was itself okay, someone stupidly didn’t notice the big read lettering that said “EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY. ALARM WILL SOUND.” Then someone opened the door anyway, and quickly became aware of the red letters. Someone then pretended not to notice that someone had opened the alarmed emergency exit and exited anyway, despite the lack of emergency. Someone’s daughter tried to crawl into a non-existent hole in the ground in an attempt to not be seen with someone. In summary, all valid reasons for not liking Skidmore.
I first visited Cambridge U. in the '80s, when access to the college quads was apparently easier than it is today. Was overwhelmed by the beauty, and thought those who had the privilege of studying there must be the most elite of the elite. But then at one college I saw a typed notice posted on a wall warning the students that those caught involved in horseplay with the fire extinguishers would be dealt with harshly.
Regarding the architecture style that thou shalt not name, but might be referred to as Oedipus-esque (because it makes you want to tear your eyes out), it always looks to me like buildings in that style were designed by a committee of ten people, all of whom speak different languages.
One main difference between that style and other, less-obnoxious styles, is that in other styles, the architect seems to design a pleasing exterior and then has the skills to effectively find space for everything necessary within that building. Whereas with that style, they seem to design the interior first, and then wrap it in concrete. If there is an air vent sticking out here, or a conference room protruding there, NO PROBLEM–just have the concrete shell take an unexpected detour to envelop it.
LOL, just tuning into CC this morning and see I’m “mentioned” in both #602 and #603…feeling empowered 
Fundraising slogan at Hampshire: Give Til it Yurts.
@moooop Between yesterday’s turkey comment and the post above, you’re winning the internet 2 days in a row. 
I didn’t come up with the turkey/peacock comparison on my own–I have a degree from U of Toronto, and it seemed like there was all sorts of speculation there about just what the heck the Robarts architect was thinking. Most guesses seemed to involve a bird of some sort due to that odd beak-like thingy in front(?) of the building.
Beaky thing is on right in this picture:
http://anthropology.utoronto.ca/resources/libraries/
Lawrence in Appleton, WI. The admissions folks made a great impression on our daughter and us when they came to visit her boarding school in Michigan (Interlochen), but when we visited, it was apparent that it was very, very regional in terms of the student body. Everyone was welcoming and nice, but it wasn’t the right fit at all for our daughter.
Talk about every building looking like every other building - that is George Mason to a tee. We didn’t actually tour but my D did a program there and driving into the place felt like you were driving into an ugly suburban office park or strip mall. Lots of circular roadways running thru campus (and yes there was a Starbuck’s and bagel shop to give it a really authentic strip mall feel) and all the buildings were of the same low-rise uninteresting genre. Struck us as a commuter school. Did go into a dorm - depressing! Seems like every campus, even if it is not the prettiest, has at least one building that is a focal point- ie; the stately library, the bell tower, some gleaming new science or business complex built by some wealthy donor, or a really old tree that once upon a time some famous interesting person sat beneath and did something important. But GWU had nothing but dull, tedious buildings and parking garages. Did not feel like a school, especially when compared to VA’s other offerings.
Regarding Skidmore - my D crossed that off before we could schedule a tour for some inane reason despite my plea to at least look at it - which reminds me to go and revive the stupidest reasons your kid wouldn’t look at a college thread. I have some doozies for that one.
“Struck us as a commuter school.”
It used to be one so no surprise I guess.
Re: Skidmore, does the admissions building still smell musty and moldy?
@doschicos Are you sure you’re not talking about Oberlin’s admissions building?
I’m sure there are plenty of musty admissions buildings but I’ve actually visited Oberlin’s 3 times and I’d give that prize to Skidmore. Oh, I forgot to mention all the cobwebs hanging from the lamps as well.
Speaking of musty buildings, our tour of New England Conservatory quickly turn to shock upon seeing moldy classrooms and out-dated equipment and generally run-down facilities. That was a few years ago, though. As soon as we got back from the tour, I read a news about $20-25 being invested in renovation, so things are probably a bit better today.
Yeah, but how much renovating can you do with 25 bucks?
Room deodorizer
@moooop - Oops, I forgot to add “M” next to the number. 
Reed. Seemed great on paper until we sat through a student panel. When asked about the downside of Reed all 5 kids practically screamed “The Stress Culture!” in unison. Ow! That would not work for my D.
Also posters and flyers were haphazardly taped EVERYWHERE. I felt like they were screaming at me everywhere I went. Even covering the handrails up the library steps. This was way more pervasive and invasive than any of the other 11 schools we’ve toured, where flyers were mainly contained to designated bulletin boards. It was just TOO much.
But hands-down the worst was when we decided to eat in the cafeteria and chose the only table available. Then we realized what we had sat down nest to: The Scrounge Table. OMG. In theory this seems like a good idea, but it really turned our stomachs. Half-eaten plates of food are deposited here on the way to the dishwashing area. Kids without any meal points left on their plans stand and eat off the plates at the scrounge. Blech!
@craspedia Gross!
@itsgettingreal17 Double Gross!!