Caltech's Architectural Heritage, From Spanish Tile to Modern Stone

The campus of the California Institute of Technology was destined for architectural greatness when in 1915 the universitys visionary founder astronomer George Ellery Hale retained one of New Yorks preeminent architects Bertram Goodhue to devise a master plan for 22 acres of orange groves in what was then rural Pasadena. Goodhues eclectic planted patios and shaded portales sheltering walls and Persian pools set the tone for the campuss illustrious architectural future. Throughout the first half of the century Caltechs nearly continuous expansion would spawn such architectural jewels as the Athenaeum a combination Italian villa and Spanish hacienda; Greene and Greenes bungalow-style student union; and the gardens of landscape architects Beatrix Ferrand and Florence Yoch who thoughtfully mixed the campuss Mediterranean themes with its natural California setting. Well-researched and informative this book details the organizational and architectural elements that have made Caltech a model for scientific institutions the world over. Rare photographs of lost and altered buildings portray an early Pasadena with ambitious plans to become a cultural mecca while contemporary images reflect the Institutes continued dedication to a rich architectural future.