Knafel Center
Address18, Mason Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number548
Alternate Names
Radcliffe Gymnasium
Building Root Number
03105
Architect (Original)
McKim, Mead & White
Land Acquired
1887-1897
Building Acquired 1898
Constructed 1898
Building Acquired 1898
Constructed 1898
StatusActive
Materials for this building in our collection are not fully processed at this time.
Site Name HistoryThe site is named for Sidney Knafel (A.B. 1952, MBA 1954), a New York businessman and Harvard benefactor. The site was originally named the Radcliffe Gymnasium after its function.Historical NotesThe Knafel Center, formerly known as the Radcliffe Gymnasium, was designed by the notable New York architecture firm McKim Mead and White, and completed in 1898. Funds were originally donated by Harriet Lawrence Hemenway, the wife of August Hemenway. It remains in use by the Radcliffe Institute.Additional Information
“Radcliffe Gymnasium Renamed Knafel Center.” Radcliffe Magazine, Summer 2013, p. 9.
“Radcliffe’s New Gymnasium.” Boston Evening Transcript, 4 Apr. 1898, p. 9.
“Radcliffe Gymnasium.” Harvard Crimson, 4 May 1898, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1898/5/4/radcliffe-gymnasium-excavations-for-the-radcliffe/.
“Old Radcliffe Gym Renovated; Agassiz Slated to Open Nov. 9.” Harvard Crimson, 14 Oct. 1981, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1981/10/14/old-radcliffe-gym-renovated-agassiz-slated/.
“After Donation, Radcliffe Gym Renamed Knafel Center.” Harvard Crimson, 29 Apr. 2013, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/4/29/radcliffe-gym-renamed-knafel/.
“Radcliffe Gymnasium.” Cambridge Chronicle, 1 Oct. 1898.
“Radcliffe Gymnasium Open.” Cambridge Chronicle, 7 Jan. 1899, p. 9.
“Gymnasium for Radcliffe.” Harvard Crimson, 1 Apr. 1898, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1898/4/1/gymnasium-for-radcliffe-by-the-gift/.
“Ladies’ Gymnasium, Radcliffe College, Cambridge.” Inland Architect and News Record, vol. 40, Oct. 1902, p. 25.
“Gymnasium, Radcliffe College, Cambridge, Mass.” Brickbuilder, vol. 10, 1901.
Radcliffe College Architectural Drawings, 1885-2006. (1885). Schlesinger Library call number RGXXXIII
Hale, Herbert D. “Recent Buildings at Harvard University.” The Architectural Review, vol. 8:6, June 1901, pp. 65-75, illus.
Gymnasium Records 1881-1940. Radcliffe Archives call number: RA.A/G997.
2007 winner Cambridge Historical Commission Preservation Award
This building has been designated by the University Planning Office as having a Notable Interior.