Mainstreet

UC's West Campus, 1964. UC's West Campus, 1970s.

(Courtesy of Archives and Rare Books Library) (Courtesy of Archives and Rare Books Library)

UC's West Campus, 2011.

(Courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

The beginning of this transformation can be traced back to 1985, the year UC recruited George Hargreaves to assess the University and its campus’ future needs. The catalyst for this decision was the University switching from a municipal institution to a state one. Though Hargreaves’ master plan called for big changes, it was immediately approved and put into action. The area known as “uptown” or West campus best showcases the University’s dramatic transformation. It is here that the student life-centered core of the plan, MainStreet, is located.²

UC's MainStreet, 1978. UC's MainStreet, after 2005 renovation.

(Courtesy of Archives and Rare Books Library) (Courtesy of Gwathmey Sigel and Associates Architects)

This area of campus was named MainStreet as a metaphor to Cincinnati’s Main Street. ““Main Street” is an odd choice of metaphor. It evokes Pleasantville more than Over-the-Rhine, the venerable downtown neighborhood surrounding the city’s real Main Street, site of Cincinnati’s infamous April 2001 race riot. Long before this urban disturbance however – mindful that it competes with four other state universities for Ohio’s best students – UC wisely cultivated a plan that would communicate a strong sense of safety and insulate student life within the perimeter.”³ The goal of the MainStreet project was to bring together all the aspects of being a student and to establish the campus as student community. Campus became a setting not just for academics, but for activism, socialization, and enjoyment as well. Len Thomas, the landscaping project manager, stated, “MainStreet is like the stitching that brings together all the pieces that were previously unattached”.⁴

UC's TUC, prior to 2005 renovation. UC's TUC, 2011.

(Courtesy of Skyscraper City) (Courtesy of Archives and Rare Books Library)

The University added a Campus Life Fee onto tuition in order to cover the MainStreet projects’ $233.8 million costs. Tangeman University Center and the Joseph Steger Student Life Center were both built as part of the project, costing $50.8 and $26.2 million respectively.⁵ Tangeman involved remodeling and expanding one of the buildings already standing in the heart of campus. “Much of the structure [was] removed, except for the iconic tower and west-or-common-facing façade. These [were] encapsulated in an airy, glass structure designed by the New York architect Charles Gwathmey”.⁶ The Joseph Steger Student Life Center is positioned next to Tangeman and houses additional outside vendors, Subway and Starbucks. It also contains: study areas, a computer lab, offices for student clubs and organizations, a business center, and art gallery displaying the works of DAAP students and faculty.⁷

^{Other notable additions of the MainStreet project are: University Pavilion, the Student Recreation Center, and Sigma Sigma Commons. The University Pavilion is the student services center, and it stands on the southern edge of McMicken Commons, in the location formerly occupied by Beecher Hall.8 The new 200,000 square foot Campus Recreation Center (CRC) is a state-of-the-art facility, located directly across from the Joseph Steger Student Life Center. It houses a huge variety of exercise equipment, as well as climbing walls, three pools, and a suspended track.9 Sigma Sigma Commons is an excellent representation of the dramatic landscape changes the University of Cincinnati underwent as part of Hargreaves’ master plan. Sigma Sigma Commons, made up of six acres of green, open lawn, used to be completed covered by an asphalt parking lot. The land pays tribute to Ohio’s previous Native American inhabitants, by featuring characteristic cone-shaped mounds similar to their earthworks. It exemplifies the University’s goal to unify past and present, in addition to urban and rural.10}

1. Daniel Friedman, "Campus Design as Critical Practice: Notes on University of Cincinnati's New Master Plan," Places, (2005). http://places.designobserver.com/media/pdf/Campus_Design__597.pdf (accessed October 11, 2011).

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Maggie Downs. “UC’s Newest Mainstay.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 May 2004, http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/05/21/loc_ucmain21.html (accessed October 10, 2011).

5. Ibid.

6.Paul Bennett and Walter Smalling, The Campus Guide University of Cincinnati An Architectural Tour by Paul Bennett with Photographs by Walter Smalling, JR. (New York City, NY: Princeton Architectural, 2001), 38.

7. Downs

8. Bennett

9. “Campus Recreation,” University of Cincinnati, http://www.uc.edu/reccenter.html (accessed October 25, 2011).

10.Friedman

Images

UC’s West Campus 1964, The Master Plan, (San Fransico, CA: Hargreaves Associates, 1991), 4, Archives and Rare Books Library, University of Cincinnati.

UC’s West Campus 1970s, The Master Plan, (San Fransico, CA: Hargreaves Associates, 1991), 4, Archives and Rare Books Library, University of Cincinnati.

2011 Aerial View of University of Cincinnati’s West Campus, University of Cincinnati, http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=56575015 (accessed October 25, 2011).

UC's MainStreet, 1978, Archives and Rare Books Library, University of Cincinnati.

Partial aerial view of University of Cincinnati’s “MainStreet”, Gwathmey Sigel and Associates Architects, http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/portfolio/proj_detail.php?job_id=199906 (accessed October 25, 2011).

University of Cincinnati’s Tangeman University Center Prior to 2005 Renovation, http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=56575015 (accessed October 25, 2011).

University of Cincinnati’s Tangeman University Center 2011, Gwathmey Sigel and Associates Architects, http://www.gwathmey-siegel.com/portfolio/proj_detail.php?job_id=199906 (accessed October 25, 2011).