For the most part, Yale University’s campus in New Haven, CT is dominated by the Collegiate Gothic architectural style. But there are some notable exceptions. Among them is Rudolph Hall. This building was designed by Paul Rudolph, and dedicated in 1963.
A Controversial, but Celebrated Addition to the Yale Campus
At the time Yale commissioned Paul Rudolph to design the building, he served as the school’s chairman of the department of architecture. Originally, he suggested other architects, including Le Corbusier. But ultimately, Yale settled on Rudolph.
During the design process, plans fluctuated, mostly with respect to whether or not the building would include a library. Groundbreaking took place in 1961, and the building was dedicated two years later.
Like many brutalist structures (and many of Rudolph’s buildings as well), mixed reception awaited the structure, known at the time as the Yale Art and Architecture Building.
Some people loved it. Architecture critic and writer Ada Louise Huxtable wrote in the New York Times that it was a “spectacular tour de force.”
Others, however, scorned its brutalist look and feel. They likened the building to a fortress and complained about issues involving temperature control.
Art historian Nikolaus Pevsner said that he felt Rudolph cared more about “self-expression” than he did about building a functional structure. This is a common charge about Rudolph’s works.
Studying Rudolph’s structures reveals great attention to detail and care and concern about each building’s prospective occupants. So there are arguments to be made against this critique. Nevertheless, Rudolph’s visions, however inspired, often didn’t translate like he imagined they would into reality.
When a fire damaged the building in 1969, many speculated that it may have been arson by angry students who despised it.
Rudolph Hall’s Design
While som felt that Rudolph Hall was an imposing monolith, multiple aspects of the design contradict that view.
For one thing, it lacks the massive, blocky look of many other brutalist buildings. Instead, it features intersecting planes. While modernist, this look is not all that out of place next to the more traditional buildings on the campus.
The surface of the concrete is ribbed, bush-hammered concrete. Explaining his choice of material, Rudolph said:
“The nature of concrete and its lack of weathering capability in Northeast American cities led me to corrugated forming systems, which allowed the forwardmost edges of the concrete to be broken away, thereby exposing the aggregate with its multitudinous beautiful colors. The stain of the concrete was contained within the grooves, whereas the leading edges were constantly washed by the rain. It broke down the scale of walls and caught the light in many different ways because of its heavy texture. Light was fractured in a thousand ways and the sense of depth was increased. As the light changed the walls seemingly quivered, dematerialized, took an additional solidity.”
The interior of Rudolph Hall is much more open than a lot of people expect. Rudolph drew inspiration in part from Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier. Wright’s influence is most noticeable inside the building. The open flow of space, and even the paprika color of the carpets are evocative of his works.
Rudolph Hall Today
Following the 1969 fire, the immediate repairs significantly altered the design of Rudolph Hall.
Yale later hired Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects to renovate Rudolph Hall in 2007 and 2008. Having studied under Rudolph, Gwathmey had a strong understanding of Rudolph’s intent. The renovations and restorations he made helped bring the building back to something closer to its original form.
An addition called the Jeffrey H. Loria Center for the History of the Art was constructed (you can see it on the right-hand side of the exterior photos in this post; it starts where you see a grey facade). The HVAC system also received an upgrade, making Rudolph Hall comfortable for students and faculty. In its renovated form, Rudolph Hall is in some ways more appreciated than it was originally.
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Paul Rudolph’s UMass Dartmouth: A Unified Core for Learning and The Boston Government Service Center and the Psychology of Space. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube for more Atomic Ranch articles, house tours, and ideas!
