Storke Tower

Introduction

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Rising out the middle of campus as a major landmark and one of the tallest buildings in Santa Barbara County, Stroke Tower stands as the most recognizable features of UCSB. Finished in 1969, the tower was named after Thomas More Storke, who was a major figure in the development of Santa Barbara and UCSB. More than just a tower, the offices for the University’s radio KCSB, yearbook offices of La Cumbre and the Daily Nexus, the University’s newspaper are housed beneath the tower. At 175 feet tall, the Tower is one of the main way-finding landmarks on the UCSB campus. The wide lawn on the north side of the Tower is a prominent site for rallies, demonstrations, and vigils. The concrete plaza on the south side of the Tower serves as the site of concerts and performances throughout the school year.

Images

View of Storke Tower

Watercolor of Storke Tower from 1969

A photo from the top of Storke Tower looking over the lagoon

A photo from the top of Storke Tower looking over the bike path and towards Davidson Library

Photo from the top of Storke Tower looking east

Backstory and Context

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Made of steel reinforced concrete and containing 61 carillon bells, the structure was designed by the architectural firm Clark and Morgan. The design can be categorized into Brutalism with it’s raw concrete style that gives it a stripped back and minimalist appearance. The arches around the base reference the Santa Barbara Mission style ubiquitous in Santa Barbara and found in UCSB’s architecture. The structure itself contains communication antennas for broadcasting, remaining relevant and important to the campus to this day. The tower’s namesake Thomas More Storke played a major role in the rise to prominence of UCSB, a Pulitzer Prize winning newspaper editor who “used his influence to establish Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, the Lake Cachuma water-supply building, and even UCSB, utilizing a college land-grant program to acquire more than 900 government-owned coastal acres” (Santa Barbara Independent). Storke tower today stands in memory of his legacy and continues to be an iconic symbol of the University’s progress.

Sources

Aushenker , Michael . Tall Tales of UCSB's Storke Tower, July 28th 2016. Accessed February 5th 2021. https://www.independent.com/2016/07/28/tall-tales-ucsbs-storke-tower/.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Architecture and Design Collection, UCSB

Photo by Julia Larson