What secrets do these walls hold? Pierce Hall stands before us. It is one of the oldest buildings on Oxford Street. Pierce Hall is at the center of the SEAS campus. It is a hub of activity.
Let’s step back in time to 1901. The early 20th century was a time of growth for engineering. Pierce Hall was built to support this expansion. Drafting was very important then. Notice the skylights on the third floor. They provided natural light for draftsmen. Today, the Stephanie F. Connaughton Room sits there. It is a flexible-use classroom.
Pierce Hall is more than just classrooms. It houses SEAS administration. Faculty offices are here too. Innovative classrooms spark new ideas. The SEAS Library provides resources for learning. Teaching labs offer hands-on experience. Bridges connect Pierce Hall to Cruft Laboratory and Maxwell Dworkin. These connections foster collaboration.
Take a look at the building’s design. It sits back from Oxford Street. It faces Holmes Field. The building has two main fronts. One faces Oxford Street. It is formal and impressive. The other faces Holmes Field and the Law School. It feels more like a campus building. Elaborate masonry details adorn both fronts. These details add to the historic charm of Pierce Hall.
Shaw and Hunnewell designed Pierce Hall. They were talented architects. Their vision shaped this stately building. Pierce Hall has a gross square footage of 98926. It is a large building with many areas. Administration offices are here. Applied Mathematics has a home here. Applied Physics is studied within these walls. Environmental Sciences and Engineering thrive here. Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science are also represented. Student offices for various disciplines are available. Research staff work diligently in Pierce Hall. The Applied Math Undergraduate Lounge offers a place to relax.
Pierce Hall is a vital part of Harvard’s SEAS. It blends history with innovation. It supports learning and research. It connects people and ideas. As we stand here, we can feel the energy of this dynamic building. It contributes to the historic core of Oxford Street. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of engineering.