The demolition of Twelve Oaks and its replacement by two new dormitories is imminent. This presents the university with an opportunity to create a master plan for the external appearance of all future buildings. The first generation buildings exhibited a certain uniform, classic form that never goes out of style. The Depression-era buildings located on or near Friendship Circle such as McGehee Hall, the music building, the original library, the old science building, even McClimans Hall and Campbell Hall, gave a certain “gravitas” to the appearance of the campus and announced to the world that we were a serious university. Subsequent construction took on the look of whatever architectural style was trendy at the time of conception. Always utilitarian, often plain and sometimes downright unattractive, their external appearance became totally disconnected from that of the first buildings.

We can change that now starting with the Twelve Oaks projects. I totally support making their interiors modern and functional, but any new buildings, especially those near Friendship Circle, should reflect the sadly abandoned form of their progenitors, even to the point, perhaps, of incorporating the “porte cochère” of the music building, the old library and the President’s residence into the design.