John Johansen’s (SB '39, BArch '42) Goddard Library and Expansion is Highlighted
Mar 09, 2012
Architects Johansen, Foote and Freeman in Conversation at 4:00 p.m. on March 14
This exhibition celebrates the life of Clark’s campus buildings—then and now. Based on the research and creative work of students in the art history, studio art, screen studies, and music programs, the exhibition uncovers the exciting history of the Clark campus and also showcases contemporary student expressions of life on our campus. It features archival photographs and documents; drawings, photographs, and video documentaries by current students; and an evening of musical compositions by students inspired by the buildings that frame their lives.
This exhibition celebrates the 45th anniversary of Clark’s receipt of an Honor Award, bestowed by the American Institute of Architects in 1967, for Fuller Quadrangle (Little Center, Sanford Hall, and Johnson Hall). But our superlative modernist buildings are not the only thing the exhibition will reveal: Clark’s campus history encompasses many intriguing chapters, including extravagant collegiate Gothic designs from the 1920s and cutting edge post-modernism and “green” buildings in the 21st century. In short, our school has grown from a single “Main Building” in 1887 into a dynamic community that flows through several blocks of Worcester and in a variety of creatively shared spaces with our surrounding neighbors.
The project is organized by Kristina Wilson, Associate Professor in the Art History program, Department of Visual and Performing Arts.
CREATING THE ACADEMIC COMMONS: In Conversation
Architect John Johansen will discuss his design of the Goddard Library and will be joined by architects Steven Foote and Mark Freeman who will talk about their recent revitalization of John Johansen’s Goddard Library, including the transformation of its lower level into the vibrant Academic Commons we know today.
Wednesday March 14 @ 4:00 p.m. | Academic Commons, Goddard Library
www.clarku.edu/higgins
Exhibition opening reception
Wednesday March 14 @ 5:00 p.m. | Traina Center 2nd Floor and Dana Commons
Salon evening with musical performances
Tuesday March 20 @ 6:00 p.m. | Traina Center 2nd Floor
The exhibition will be held in two venues: from March 12 to April 13 in the Traina Center, and from March 12 to May 21 in Dana Commons.
Funded with generous support from: the Higgins School of Humanities; the Offices of the Provost, University Advancement, and the Dean of the College, Clark University; the Felicia Fund, Providence, Rhode Island; and the Furhman Family Gift. This program is funded in part by a grant from the Worcester Arts Council, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. www.worcestermass.org/WAC
August 26, 2012
I graduated from Clark University in 1969. The Goddard was under construction for a good part of my undergraduate years there. It's a large and very complex structure. It's also one of the most elegant and refined of the Brutalist era buldings. It's still one of John Johansen's best designs, though, sadly, the original integrity of the his concept has been eroded due to the recent modifications. By contrast, I seriously doubt that Harvard would ever consider altering LeCourbusier's Carpenter Center, which was built just six years before the Goddard. Parenthetically, I took my first course in urban planning at Harvard Extension with William Nash when the School of Design was in Hunt Hall and went on to a city planning masters degree at the University of Oregon School of Architecture.
August 27, 2012
I hasten to add that the image of the Goddard in the view provided here is the original building as designed by Mr. Johansen. It's since been altered, including a regrading of the front elevation and the addition of a smaller bay near the main entrance and to the left of the large bay. The large right hand pane in that larger bay is now mullioned. There are also wireless telephone transceivers at the top of the right hand stair tower.