The IHS campus was designed in 1960 by an architectural firm called Perkins and Will. The campus was designed to be California-style: a unique choice in architectural design for a high school in New York. Is this design ultimately beneficial or detrimental to its occupants at large? In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of the distinctive campus layout of IHS.
Aesthetic: California-Style Architecture Provides Visual Allure at IHS
1. Freshness Aiding in Education
The size of the campus, as well as its many outdoor areas, provides students with an opportunity to have healthy exercise between classes. At some point in the school day, you will find yourself walking across the Quad, getting a whiff of clean air, making you refreshed. This oxygen is much needed to prepare your brains for your next class!
2. Humanizing Aesthetic, Also Aiding in Education
The lavender garden and trees (especially colorful in autumn), as well as the wide open grassy areas, including the quad, can provide a sight for sore eyes. Occasionally, you’ll even spot a duck taking its ducklings on a trip to the lake. Nature can improve students’ moods after a bad test score and can set them up for success for the rest of the day.
Impractical: California-Style Buildings Only Make Student Life Difficult and Troublesome!!
1. Routes
Who can appreciate the campus as they are racing from K-building to Kulp everyday to avoid being late for class? We sincerely hope that doesn’t include icy conditions! On your way to class, perhaps you can enjoy the campus aesthetic of dead trees and slush. IHS campus is simply not practical for a climate that can have cold/snow for up to six months of the year.
2. Security and Access
On a cold day in Ithaca, you finally get through the wall of doors and into the Quad. To your dismay, you remain outdoors, with icy winds blowing into your face. You look around to observe metal letters stuck to each side of the walls. You have 6 options to choose from: C, E, F, G, K, and J. Plot twist, none of these options are correct: whichever building you choose to go into, you’ll be locked out. On the flip side, the sheer number of access points to the campus can be daunting when considering security concerns.
→ There are several other reasons why one may believe that IHS’s California-style campus is either better or worse. What are your thoughts about “The IHS Campus Design Dilemma?” Go to <https://bit.ly/CTFeb2024> or scan the QR code and tell us where you stand! Votes are collected until February 10, 2024, and results will be released in the March 2024 issue of The Tattler.
November 2023 Voting Results: Arial (2023) or Ye Olden Times
In the last issue, we discussed which font is superior: Arial or Times New Roman font. Readers were then asked to vote on the side for which they prefer. Here is what they think!
