Student Life

Within a Stone's Throw
Take ten or twenty minutes each day to explore our neighborhood buildings, spaces and museums. Remember, the museums are free with your I.D. so you can afford to literally breeze in for a quick refresher on your way into the Square, or between classes. It always gives you something; whether it allows you to expand your own thinking, bring your own work into perspective, or quickly appreciate beautiful art, those quick stops are the most underutilized pick-me-ups Harvard can offer, for no charge. The most often phrase heard after a quick lunch break at one of the museums is, "why don't I do this more often?"

Every so often, it's good to put down your pen or X-Acto blade and find out what is going on at the GSD. From the parties sponsored by the student forum, to the lectures going on just about every night of the week, there is a lot to absorb at the GSD. Your time here will fly by, and it is easy to just keep on working; but, you don't want that to be all you remember of your time here. (MArch I 3 student)

The Student Wall - Allotted in weekly increments, students (or groups of students) assume responsibility for adorning the southern portion of the Gund Hall lobby and gallery with examples of their work. By no means are these exhibits limited to design. In the past, students have displayed drawings, paintings, sculpture, photography, even found objects on this wall.

Beer and Dogs - Where the working world has its Friday "five o'clock whistle," the GSD has its six o'clock beer and dogs. Sponsored by the student chapter of the ASLA, hot dogs, pizza and cold beer are served in the Gund Hall cafeteria. Anticipated equally by both faculty and students, Beer and Dogs is an opportunity for the GSD community to end the week in a social and relaxing environment. And for 1 dollar per hot dog and two bucks a beer, it also makes for an inexpensive dinner.

Halloween Party - The famous bacchanalian Halloween party lets GSD students and professors spin those big ideas off the drawing table and onto their heads - literally. Known to be big, loud, audacious, and a little bit silly, the Halloween Party is organized and produced by the Student Forum. It has been held at the Boston Cyclorama the last several years. A fiercely competitive poster design and pumpkin-carving contest foreshadow the fling. If you ever wanted to see your fellow classmates dress up like a salad bar, or a gigantic piece of sushi, this party is not to be missed.

Beaux Arts Ball - Sponsored by the Student Forum and held each spring, the Beaux Arts Ball serves as the GSD's quasi-prom. After two semesters spent in sweat pants and flip flops, the Beaux Arts Ball allows faculty, students, GSD alumni and staff to don their black suit best in a celebration of the year's hard work.

Design Charrettes - Sponsored by student groups and occasionally by individuals or groups outside of the school, these short competitions usually last no longer than 24 - 48 hours. Winning entries in previous charrettes have received cash awards, merchandise vouchers, or the opportunity to construct the winning design.

Exhibitions are mounted in the GSD Gallery, which also serves as our lobby. Unlike any other school at Harvard, when you enter it, you are immediately immersed in its discipline.

Each year, students organize their own teams. The sports fluctuate based on students' interests, but these groups have been pretty stable. If there isn't a contact person now, keep an eye out for student emails as the team organizes.

A great way to clear your head and keep your mental health is a quick run around the area. (Remember there are lockers you can reserve, and showers in the Gund Hall basement.) At this link are some favorite routes reported by students and staff.

Recreation at Harvard
Harvard Athletics offers classes, facilities for swimming and running, as well as courses such as yoga and Tai Chi sponsored by the Center for Wellness.

Outside of Harvard
In this site are suggestions compiled from students, staff and faculty at the GSD. There are far more resources available in the Boston area, and we are always interested in your own suggestions. Please email any to: Things To Do.

A good source for all kinds of recreational sports sponsored by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) website. It lists public golf courses, running trails, sailing, beaches, boating, swimming pools and more.

Hiking About Boston is a great website for hiking, biking and walking around Boston (with MBTA information). It has links to organizations, books, maps and weather websites.

The GSD and the following locations offer all sorts of "artsy", hard-to-find, or just plain fun films.

Film+Architecture (F+A) presents an architectural film series each semester at the GSD. Films are preceded by speaking engagements by an invited guests, both from within and outside of the Harvard community. All lectures/films are open to the public and hosted in Piper Auditorium at Gund Hall.

The Harvard Film Archive screens films at the Carpenter Center on a regular basis.

The Brattle Theatre at 44 Brattle Street, is among other things, a movie revival house, picking some of the classics of yesteryear and playing them for limited runs (often a couple of shows on one day).

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