A Chronicle of Construction and Evolution: Unveiling the History of Higgins Hall and Boston College's Architectural Landscape
Boston College (BC), nestled in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, boasts a rich history interwoven with architectural evolution. From its humble beginnings in 1864 to its present-day status as a distinguished university, BC’s campus has undergone continuous transformation, marked by both aspirational visions and tangible construction projects. Among the key structures that contribute to the university's identity are Higgins Hall and Stokes Hall, each representing a distinct chapter in BC's ongoing development.
The Genesis of a Campus: From Rural Heights to Gothic Grandeur
In 1907, Rev. Thomas I. Gasson, S.J., recognized the need for a larger campus and acquired the 31-acre Lawrence Farm in Chestnut Hill. This marked a pivotal moment, leading to the construction of Gasson Hall in 1909, originally named the Recitation Building and later the Tower Building. The building opened in March of 1913 and was eventually named for Gasson, who led the relocation effort. The move to Chestnut Hill established the foundation for BC's iconic Gothic architectural style, which continues to define the Middle Campus. The early campus, captured through the lens of photographer Clifton Church, showcased the Recitation Building overlooking orchards, fields, and reservoirs. Plans drawn in 1930 by campus architects Maginnis & Walsh envisioned a grand complex, including buildings that were never realized, such as a student chapel.
Higgins Hall: A Cornerstone of Academic Life
Higgins Hall, built in 1965 and expanded in 1995, has long been a central hub for academic pursuits at Boston College. Recognizing the need to optimize Higgins Hall to support its research faculty, BC retained Payette in 2012 to lead a master planning effort. This would better support BC’s existing and projected research faculty. In the summer of 2023, Skanska completed a $1.5 million renovation of the 1,100-square-foot Higgins Hall auditorium. The renovations, which began immediately after graduation in May of 2023, included demolishing the existing seating, replacing the flooring, and installing new finishes for the ceiling soffits and acoustic wall panels. Following the successful completion of Higgins Hall, Skanska will continue to cultivate its relationship with Boston College by initiating two laboratory renovation projects in the Fall of 2023.
Stokes Hall: An Investment in the Humanities
Opened in 2013, Stokes Hall stands as a testament to Boston College's commitment to the humanities. The $78 million Stokes Hall, the school’s most expensive educational building ever, represents an investment in the humanities and a bet in the future of bricks-and-mortar higher education. Conceived as a foundation of campus life, the building embodies the liberal arts tradition and the Jesuit educational philosophy. The building’s namesake, Patrick T. Stokes, former chairman of Anheuser-Busch and a BC trustee, emphasized the importance of a well-rounded education: “College is not a trade school, and I don’t think a lot of businesses are looking for, ‘Can you give me this particular skill,’ ’’ said Stokes. “They are looking at the individual. Despite its size, the building is rather inconspicuous. Still, many upperclassmen and alumni have missed what used to be on the site: the main quad. The site housed BC’s first football field until Alumni Stadium opened in 1957. The space has been inaccessible since construction of Stokes Hall began on Oct. 4, 2010. One night before the work started, students held a vigil. The Rev. When Aja and Pat committed to building Stokes Hall about a decade ago, they ensured it would be a building devoted to the humanities, a crucial element of the liberal arts-the foundation of a Jesuit education. “The building plan clicked with us in terms of being a part of the academic mission of Boston College,” says Pat. What most impresses Pat and Aja are the students who call BC home. Last fall, the couple met on campus with a variety of students, all of whom expressed just how critical their financial packages were in their decision to come to Boston College. “BC students are very motivated as well as very interesting,” says Aja. “They all know what they want to do and where they want to go in the future. They feel the responsibility to make something out of the opportunity that has been given to them to study at BC. Pat and Aja hope their gift can help young people from all backgrounds access the distinctive BC experience, particularly those from their communities.
The Schiller Institute: A Nexus of Interdisciplinary Science
The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society, a 156,500-square-foot, five-story building, represents BC's commitment to interdisciplinary research and innovation. The building will be 156,500 square feet, five stories tall, and connect to Higgins Hall on the first and third floors. BC expects to hire 16 new faculty and staff members for the institute-two of whom will be administrative staff, while the rest will be either what the application calls “IISS” faculty or computer science faculty. Thirty-five new graduate and postdoctoral lab assistants will also be brought on. With Schiller, BC plans to join a growing list of research-focused institutions committed to providing dedicated space for interdisciplinary studies. The building, designed to achieve LEED Silver Certification, connects to Higgins Hall on the first and third floors. The first level will contain a café, four 40-seat classrooms, the auditorium, and open “collaboration commons” areas in the surrounding hallways, which will be located on floors one through three. In addition, plans for the first level include a computer lab and lounge and an architecture and robotics lab. The second level will serve as the new home of the Edmund H. Shea Jr. Center for Entrepreneurship. The much-heralded “maker-spaces” will also be located here, as well as three more 40-seat classrooms, one 50-seat classroom, and two “active learning” classrooms. The third level will serve as the new home of the computer science department and two more active learning classrooms. Just down the hall will be four “Integrated Science and Engineering” labs-two intended for teaching and two intended for design and prototype work. Two more student workspace areas will also be featured on this floor. The department currently has its offices based in St. Mary’s Hall. Parts of the fourth and fifth floors serve as additional computer science space. A slightly smaller area has been marked out to serve as more office space and contain a few computer science-specific workspaces. The fourth floor will be designed for material science disciplines, and the fifth floor lab space for life sciences. The open labs each feature 12 tables and six support rooms. The fourth floor open lab is also adjacent to a seperate “core lab,” while the fifth floor is adjacent to a room designated for electrophysiology. Both floors also feature a “transdisciplinary scholars office,” the nature of which has not yet been revealed by the University.
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Future Visions: A Seamless Campus for the Next Generation
Boston College's commitment to growth extends beyond individual buildings. The University has a strategic vision to enhance its campus and academic offerings. BC recently acquired 24 acres of property 1.2 miles from Main Campus at 300 Hammond Pond Parkway, purchasing the land from Congregation Mishkan Tefila (CMT), the Boston area’s oldest Conservative Jewish synagogue. While the property’s potential uses are uncertain as of yet, the University is exploring different possibilities regarding not only long-term utility, but also the building’s short-term usage as potential performance space, symposium space, or conference space. "In July of a year ago, we engaged the firm Sasaki Associates, a nationally recognized campus planning firm, to help develop a campus master plan to support the strategic directions that we set for ourselves ? and also to help us devise ways of incorporating the land bought from the archdiocese into Boston College, so that there's a greater sense that we're one campus," said University President Rev. William P. BC's strategic vision will bring unprecedented structural development to campus. The University expects all of the Mods to be torn down within eight to 10 years. "McElroy is eventually going to go away, and Carney will be renovated," said Leahy, evoking laughter and applause from the audience. McElroy is slated to be replaced with a new academic building. The Middle Campus, the current academic heart of BC, he said, will retain its signature Gothic style of architecture. "We're looking at a campus plan that tries to have a seamless as possible feel for Boston College," said Leahy.
Navigating Campus Changes and Preserving History
The University Archives serve as a repository of information illustrating campus growth, with examples of aspirational as well as actual building projects. These resources provide valuable insights into the evolution of Boston College, capturing both the realized and unrealized visions that have shaped its physical landscape. The Boston College athletic programs collection (BC1997-006) includes programs, media guides, and occasional score sheets for both men’s and women’s athletic teams and clubs for home events and tournaments. They often include articles about athletic topics. The first Alumni Stadium opened in 1957 in the approximate location of today’s newer stadium. Of the three connected buildings labelled in this drawing, the gym and hockey rink were eventually built as the Roberts Center and McHugh Forum, but the proposed student union remains only a dream. Scorecard for BC vs. An excellent general resource is the database newspapers.bc.edu. It includes full text searchable newspapers published by the students and administration of BC, 1883-present. In 1975, the long-running student newspaper, The Heights, published an article about transportation to and around the main campus. Within it was the report that the addition of an escalator between Lower and Middle Campus was under consideration. There is a section of the Boston College building and campus images collection called “Proposed buildings (unbuilt).” An example is a set of images for a proposed student center and Humanities building in 1995. The images in the collection are arranged into six main series: Individual buildings and structures; Multiple buildings; Exteriors and landscapes; Devlin Hall/Higgins Hall interiors; Aerial views; and Bound volumes. They are described in the collection’s finding aid where you’ll see links to images already digitized. Burns Library’s University Archives Guide describes a variety of resources for many BC history topics.
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