From Quads to Commons
Campus architecture traces shifting priorities in higher education. Medieval quads enclosed scholars in cloisters, while 20th-century lecture halls elevated the professor’s authority. Today, universities are reimagining space as open-plan “learning commons.” At the University of Arizona, the Student Success District integrates libraries, study rooms, and advising centers into a seamless hub with digital studios, outdoor paseos, and group spaces. The design signals a new philosophy: collaboration and access over isolation and hierarchy.
Harvard Yard, ca. 1880. Public domain.