<p>What are some universities on the West Coast that have comparable campuses to some of the older, more prestigious East Coast universities such as U of Chicago, Harvard, Princeton, etc? I'm taking about impressive buildings, beautiful
campus settings, stuff like that.</p>
<p>Berkeley, definitely. Also, UCLA. To be honest, I can't think of any that can match them on the West Coast -- not even Stanford.</p>
<p>A few of my favorites:
- Pacific U.
- Stanford U.
- The whole Claremont consortium
- Santa Clara U.</p>
<p>To be honest, I'd kind of disagree about Berkeley and UCLA -- I think they're both great places to get an education and fairly nice overall, but they're (understandably) not that well maintained compared to some private institutions, particularly in the indoor areas. Must be hard to compete aesthetically with tiny rich schools that cycle out their furniture every couple years. Maybe we're just focusing on different aspects, like exterior/interior view.</p>
<p>I'm talking exterior (though interior at these campuses is very nice, too), which is what I assume the OP means by "impressive buildings" and "beautiful campus settings." </p>
<p>Large campuses can be very well-kept -- Stanford, for instance (20,000 students). UCLA's campus is well known to be one of the most beautiful. Berkeley's campus, too, is known for its architecture:</p>
<p>University</a> of California, Berkeley Campus Architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>South Hall, to me, seems exactly what a "big, impressive building" is. Same for Wheeler Hall, Dwinelle Hall, Sproul Hall, the Valley Life Sciences Building ("one of the largest academic buildings in the world"), Doe Library, Hearst Greek Theater, the Campanile, etc. all of which have a grand appearance. The campus is very nature-y, with tons of trees (not to mention there's a huge botanical garden), despite being in a city. Much of the same can be said of UCLA, which has a very urban-park feel. Both campuses, though large and public, are very, very clean.</p>
<p>The reason I wouldn't say the same of Stanford is how unimpressive its architecture is. Some of it--like Meyer Library--is very nice, but the Spanish-mission style of architecture is rather tiresome after a while. Hell, even current students acknowledge that its campus, while pristine, is rather dull -- to the point that Stanford is often deemed a "big Taco Bell." It lacks all the big, grand buildings, as its campus is more flat.</p>
<p>As for the Claremonts, even those aren't as pretty as some might think. Pitzer was recently rated one of the ugliest campuses in the US.</p>
<p>The</a> 20 Ugliest College Campuses in the USA - A List of all Ugly Colleges</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd isn't known for its prettiness, either. But they all, too, lack the big, grand buildings.</p>
<p>Beauty's in the eye of the beholder, I suppose.</p>
<p>Funny note:</p>
<p>
[quote]
In the 1980s, [Bowles Hall] was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a prime example of the style of architecture called 'Collegiate Gothic'.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Bowles</a> Hall - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
<p>And that's just a dorm complex. =p</p>
<p>USC..? no?</p>
<p>Cornell University has some beautiful architechture and has a beautiful location, on a hillside, overlooking a lake, with deep canyons and gorges.</p>
<p>I always hear that peperdine has the most amazing campus</p>
<p>
[quote]
Berkeley, definitely. Also, UCLA. To be honest, I can't think of any that can match them on the West Coast -- not even Stanford.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Berkeley's architecture is indeed quite nice, and, dare I say it, is probably better than Stanford's. I can't speak for UCLA (never visited it). </p>
<p>However, I would say that one West Coast school whose architecture is arguably even better than Berkeley's is, perhaps surprisingly, Caltech. Caltech has a very nice campus. Their architecture, frankly, beats the heck out of MIT's. </p>
<br>
<blockquote> <p>As for the Claremonts, even those aren't as pretty as some might think.<<</p> </blockquote>
<br>
<p>The Claremonts ain't all the same. Mudd is indeed frightful to look at, but Pomona College has beautiful architecture.</p>
<p>In general, USC has a pretty campus too.</p>
<p>Pepperdine is gorgeous.</p>
<p>Rhodes College in Memphis, TN is beautiful. It's very east coast Ivy looking, in my opinion.</p>
<p>I agree with UCLA, USC, Berkeley, but, in general, in California you give up architecture for scenery and weather. Also, most colleges don't have all old buildings, even on the east coast. Lots of times there is a central quad that has ambience and then the dorms, student centers, labs, etc. are in new buildings that have that "modern" look.</p>
<p>Some modern schools can be pretty, too. UC Irvine has a campus that has an "office park" feel, but is, nonetheless, very calming and beautiful with its central park-like green area. Cal Poly SLO is a jumbled mess of buildings, but somehow the whole thing felt pleasing to me because of the hills rising up behind the dorms.</p>
<p>sakky: true, Caltech has a nice campus, despite its techiness (I'm not sure why people have called it "ugly"). The nature-y feel to it is nice, but I'm not feeling the architecture there.</p>
<p>kyledavid80,</p>
<p>I disagree. You are just picking and choosing individual buildings. Overall, Berkeley campus is not bad but not amazing. The buildings aren't coherent (my alma mater has the same problem though the lakefront scenery makes up for it). I do think UCLA is nicer and looks more well-kept. Stanford's architecture is just different but overall, it's a more stunning campus than Berkeley. At the Oval area, there are often many tourists taking pictures. There are also new couples taking wedding photos in front of the Quad. I don't see that kind of things happening at Berkeley.</p>
<p>
[quote]
You are just picking and choosing individual buildings.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>No, I'm just citing a few examples. =p</p>
<p>
[quote]
Overall, Berkeley campus is not bad but not amazing.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I disagree -- I'd say it looks pretty amazing. (Again, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.)</p>
<p>
[quote]
The buildings don't aren't coherent.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Er...?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Stanford's architecture is just different but overall, it's a more stunning campus than Berkeley.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Disagreed. In all the times I've been there, it's been anything but "stunning."</p>
<p>
[quote]
There are also new couples taking wedding photos in front of the Quad.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Aren't you picking and choosing here?</p>
<p>I don't think Stanford doesn't have lots of varied, impressive buildings, though the setting is very nice. The campus is flat, but very clean.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The buildings don't aren't coherent.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The look is all over the map from one building to another and some of them don't look that pretty.</p>
<p>It really depends on what the OP means. If you're just looking for beautiful campuses in general, then you'll be able to find some fantastic west coast options. If you're specifically looking for the slightly gothic, ivy-covered "east coast" look, then that'll really cut down your choices.</p>
<p>Pepperdine has an incredible view, and a clean, cohesive campus, but the architecture is not even remotely reminiscent of the gothic/ivy/etc. look. USC, UCLA...lovely campuses, but very west coast in feel. Stanford, Scripps...beautiful campuses, but Spanish-style architecture...wonderful campus settings, but zero aesthetic similarity to Harvard/Princeton/Chicago.</p>
<p>Berkeley's campus isn't as consistent as would be nice, but there are some incredible buildings sprinkled throughout (Bowles, as mentioned above, comes immediately to mind). Ditto both Pomona College (Claremont) and University of the Pacific (Stockton). If it's the "east coast" look that you're going for, these three probably won't be exact matches for what you're looking for, but they would be worth looking into.</p>
<p>View</a> toward Berkeley campus from PSR on Flickr - Photo Sharing! gives a better view of other buildings.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The look is all over the map from one building to another and some of them don't look that pretty.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I like the variance -- from modern to Gothic to techy. At the same time, I think the combinations work well together, much better than a single architecture style for the entire campus.</p>
<p>UC</a> Berkeley Campus on Flickr - Photo Sharing! Here, the tower is lovely; but the one on the right? Not so much. </p>
<p>Yahoo</a>! Image Detail for static.flickr.com/139/357229382<em>6f9de25b65</em>m.jpg this one is nice.</p>
<p>Yahoo</a>! Image Detail for static.flickr.com/217/469559274<em>983e42252b</em>m.jpg the high-rise at the bottom? not so much.</p>