classicalrevival

Columbia University's Low Memorial Library was designed by architect Charles Follen McKim of McKim, Mead, and White, the firm that created the original master plan for the University's Morningside Heights campus. Internet sources differ on the date of construction. Columbia itself says it was completed in 1897. But then Columbia is also one of several Internet sources saying that the dome is built of granite, yet this 2003 article from Architectural Record reveals that it is actually built mostly of brick, and faced with limestone panels. Oh, Internets!

This is such an incredible structure. When I went to the campus, I loved all of the architecture at Columbia University, but I was especially fond of the Low Memorial Library. The Low family spent over $1 million in the late 1890's in order to finance the building, which is now the most popular and prominent building on campus. This building is beautifully designed with massive columns and perfect symmetry. Furthermore, this library is still used today as the administrative center by the university. It is hard to believe that it was built over a century ago, and it is still as magnificent today as it was then!

I recently visited the campus this summer in the beginning of June. Talk about amazing! The architecture of the entire campus is awesome but the most memorable of all of the buildings was definitely the Low Memorial Library. I was quite impressed with the fact that it is still in such great shape. When looking at brochures of Columbia University, the Low Memorial Library was always pictured with students sitting on the steps and hanging out. I knew that it was a popular place for students to lounge around but when I was actually there sitting on the steps, I quickly realized why it was such a great place to just sit and relax.

Current picture: www.ronsaari.com/stockImages/nyc/columbiaUniversityLowMem...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Memorial_Library

Assuming this is the view from the Mall, today you would see the East Wing building off to the right.

Wow.. I think the building was around 7 or 8 years old at this time.. still geaming white.. todays it's acid-washed grey-tan.

A place to calabreted you brain.Nick D.P.

awesome

One for Francesca at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

Many thanks for putting this one up, interesting to note the changing plant life over the years if you compare with this pic taken around 1948.
The tree has gone and the now familiar palm trees are taking root.

Francesca

And another couple of photos:

See also -

The first of the bronze bas-reliefs added to the Art Gallery facade was 'Phryne before Praxiteles', by Percival Ball...which was unveiled on 27th March, 1903. I think we see it here...4th niche from the right (it's almost entirely obscured by the tree). So I'd say this pic was taken some time on/after 27th March, 1903...but before the construction of the Northern wing...which was built in the period ca. March 1908 - July 1909...

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263590766 - Australian Town & Country Journal, 4th March, 1908...similar pic here...maybe slightly later...two more telephone lines...

trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/238338443 - the Daily Telegraph, 27th July, 1909...pic here showing the completed Northern wing...


The second bas-relief added to the Art Gallery facade was 'Assur Natsir Pal, King of Assyria', by Gilbert Bayes...it was unveiled on 18th February, 1907...the third was 'Queen Hatasu of Egypt', by Countess Feodora Gleichen...it was placed in position in ca. March, 1908. Both these reliefs occupy niches to the left of 'Phryne before Praxiteles', so if they were present at the time this SLNSW pic was taken, they would have been obscured by the tree. The fourth Bas-relief added was 'Augustus at Nimes' by William Reid Dick...it was unveiled 20+ years later, on 10th December, 1931...it occupies the niche to the right of 'Phryne before Praxiteles'...