Hampshire College
- Facilities

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Frankly, Hampshire College would not win any architecture pageants unless it was for “form follows function.” The buildings are ugly by common consensus, but they perform their duties admirably. Academics, artists, and athletes alike have a few gripes about the facilities: the library is small and dingy, the theater spaces are limited, and the main basketball gym is scruffy. A big concern is that the College lacks a student center, and for students looking to avoid paying inflated prices for daily goods like groceries and toiletries, the school store is not going to cut it. The key culprit in many facilities-related issues is the College’s meager endowment. Luckily, Hampshire students have access to the other four colleges’ facilities.

The appeal of the worn buildings and facilities is in their quirkiness. Donut 1, the furthest of the circular apartment complexes, houses the informal, student-run Goodread Library. This library’s holdings vary slightly from year to year, depending on the flow of students donating their used books. The Airport Lounge, a public space designated for late-night studying, almost always has students around the clock. Student workers work through the night and prepare free coffee as bleary-eyed students type away on papers. The Tavern, though it has a spotty past, has been the site of small concerts, poetry events, parties, and late-night chilling. The main art gallery becomes particularly active in the last few weeks of the semester as student exhibits go up. Shows and public events are also held in the Red Barn.

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Facilities at Hampshire College

emilylawson

English '15

2.3

C

Brutalist Style Architecture

Hampshire has a BEAUTIFUL location, but we suffer no delusions about our facilities. The surrounding mountains and landscape make the school aesthetically pleasing, but our buildings do not. The 70's architecture is unfortunate, and many of the buildings are designed in peculiarly counterintuitive ways (especially the library). We don't really have a student center, although we may have one by next year.

Apr 10, 2012

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Facilities at Hampshire College

cgj12

Pre-Medicine Studies '14

3.5

B

Good for Small Endowment

The facilities are ok... the gym is pretty small, though not ridiculous... but there is a pool and a sauna, so you can't complain.

Sep 24, 2011

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Facilities at Hampshire College

hampshiregrrl

History '13

2.3

C

Facilities

The architecture of Hampshire is, in a word, hideous. The 70s were not a good time for buildings. However, Hampshire wouldn't really WORK with big, austere, stately buildings like other campuses. The vibe is way too grungy for that. On the right side, the scenery of Hampshire is gorgeous. There is no student center, and the library is probably the worst of the five college consortium. Working out on campus is not easy. However, there are some cool things to get involved with at Hampshire. The problem with Hampsters, though, is we tend to be lacking in motivation when it comes to gathering to get stuff done. So, meh. Be sure to check out the Spiritual Life Center and the QCA... they're really great spaces!

Aug 16, 2010

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