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Broida Hall

Introduction

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Standing behind Davidson Library, Broida Hall's architectural style was coined as the “late campus standard”, and is a part of a set of buildings built during the late 1960’s. This style is the most common and prolific on the UCSB campus, as most of the buildings were constructed during this time by the architects Charles Luckman Associates. As stated in the ADA Museum website; “the architectural vocabulary highlights the horizontal lines, re-enforced concrete, and overhanging sunshades on the windows as part of the "late campus standard" architectural style that unified the campus architecture. Beige colored grid patterns and utilitarian design make these buildings appear purely practical and unmemorable. Almost similar to the design of Kerr Hall’s brutalism, they have large windows lining all the walls, with overhanging concrete serving as sun-shades.

Images

Clothing, Bicycle frame, Bicycle wheel, Bicycle tire

From the ADC Collection: A photo of a model of Broida Hall circa 1967

Rectangle, Urban design, Building, Font

Backstory and Context

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The architects Charles Luckman Associates took on the UCSB campus design in 1958, coming on as the new campus planners. Charles Luckman was a prominent architect in the LA area, constructing buildings such as the Los Angeles Convention Center and had a keen focus on the business side of architecture. This business focus can be felt in his buildings as have been criticized for being “unartistic”, their function taking precedence over style. On campus, the company planned in the 1960’s with the expectation of a large increase in expansion calling for “taller and denser buildings”. The result is Broida, Chemistry, and Harold Frank Hall among a few, with geometric and symmetric elements such as dentils and window hoods helping define this new style of university architecture. This style ultimately became very recognizable as part of California’s modernist architecture in universities and the post-World War II architectural vision as a whole. 

Sources

Charles Luckman, Los Angeles Conservancy . Accessed December 1st 2020. https://www.laconservancy.org/architects/charles-luckman.

1950S and 1960S, AD&A Museum. Accessed December 1st 2020. http://www.adc-exhibits.museum.ucsb.edu/exhibits/show/ucsbcampusarchitecture/pereiraandluckman.

Pacheco, Antonio. UCSB looks back at the school's often-overlooked role in campus modernism, The Architect's Newspaper. January 14th 2019. Accessed December 1st 2020. https://www.archpaper.com/2019/01/ucsb-campus-architecture-design-social-change/.

Additional Information