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Harkness Commons
Access to material may be restricted.
Access to material may be restricted.

Harkness Commons

Address14, Everett Street, Cambridge, MA, United States of America, 02138
Site Number805
Alternate Names Graduate Commons, Graduate Center, Casperson Student Center
Building Root Number 02570
Architect (Original)
Building Acquired 1950
Constructed 1950
StatusInactive
Site Name HistoryThe site is named for Edward Stephen Harkness (1874-1940) a noted philanthropist who was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Harkness attended Yale College and Columbia Law School.Historical NotesHarkness Commons was the dining hall and commons building designed by Walter Gropius in the area north of the Harvard Law School known as Jarvis Field. Harkness Commons was designed to serve the seven dormitories of the Graduate Commons complex which were built in 1950 with the funding provided by an endowment gifted in 1928 by Edward Stephen Harkness.
Additional Information
Esensten, Andrew C. “Harkness, Law School’s Loker, Gets Facelift.” The Harvard Crimson, 22 Sept. 2004, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2004/9/22/harkness-law-schools-loker-gets-facelift/.
Friedman, Claire G. “‘Hark’ To Receive Makeover.” The Harvard Crimson, 2 Dec. 2003, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/12/2/hark-to-receive-makeover-fifty-years/.
Gilbert, Frank B. “Graduate Center Dedication Ends Decades Of Planning.” The Harvard Crimson, 6 Oct. 1950, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1950/10/6/graduate-center-dedication-ends-decades-of/.
Harvard University Archives. Construction Management Records, ca. 1953-1986. Harvard University Archives call number UAV 298.8000
“Corporation Approves Graduate Center Plan.” The Harvard Crimson, 14 Oct. 1948, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1948/10/14/corporation-approves-graduate-center-plan-pthe/.
“Modern Gets a Bid from the Oldest U.S. University.” Architectural Forum, vol. 89, no. 5, Nov. 1948, p. 15.
“Dormitories for Harvard University, U.S.A.” Architects’ Journal, vol. 109, Feb. 1949, pp. 125–26.
“Graduate Center, Harvard University.” Architectural Record, vol. 107, no. 6, June 1950, p. 102.
“Harvard Builds a Graduate Yard : New Dormitory Center Retains Quadrangle Pattern, Recasts Student Life in a Modern Mold.” Architectural Forum, vol. 93, no. 6, Dec. 1950, pp. 62–71.
“Miro Mural Arrives at Grad Center | News | The Harvard Crimson.” The Harvard Crimson, 26 Sept. 1951, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1951/9/26/miro-mural-arrives-at-grad-center/.
“New Obelisk, Skating Rink To Adorn Graduate Center.” The Harvard Crimson, 15 Nov. 1950, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1950/11/15/new-obelisk-skating-rink-to-adorn/.
“Says Harvard Grad Center Conforms to Yard Traditions.” Cambridge Chronicle, 12 Oct. 1950, p. 10.
“‘World-Tree’ Graces Grad Center; Its Sculptor Advises: ‘Enjoy It!’” The Harvard Crimson, 4 Jan. 1951, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1951/1/4/world-tree-graces-grad-center-its-sculptor/.
“Commons Building Named For Harkness.” The Harvard Crimson, 6 Oct. 1950, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1950/10/6/commons-building-named-for-harkness-pthe/.
“University Dedicates New Graduate Dorms, Commons This Afternoon.” The Harvard Crimson, 6 Oct. 1950, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1950/10/6/university-dedicates-new-graduate-dorms-commons/.
“Harvard to Build Housing for 600 Grad Students.” Cambridge Chronicle, 14 Oct. 1948, p. 1.
“Award Contract for Jarvis Field Project.” The Harvard Crimson, 30 June 1949, p. 6.
“New Grad Center with Functional Planning Will Replace Vets’ Housing at Jarvis Court.” The Harvard Crimson, 26 Sept. 1949, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1949/9/26/new-grad-center-with-functional-planning/.
“Grad Center Commons to Be Named After Harkness.” The Harvard Crimson, 3 Oct. 1950, https://www.thecrimson.com/article/1950/10/3/grad-center-commons-to-be-named/.
“Harvard to Build 7 Dormitories at Cost of $3,000,000: Quarters for 600 Men to Rise Near the Square; Work Begins in Spring.” Daily Boston Globe, 14 Oct. 1948, pp. 1–2.
Harris, Henry. “There’s Going to Be Room for Discussion in Harvard Dorms.” Daily Boston Globe, 24 Oct. 1948, p. A_20.
“New Harvard Graduate Center to Be Ultra Modern in Design.” Daily Boston Globe, 21 Oct. 1948, pp. 1–2.
Heskel, Julia. Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott: Past to Present. Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott, 1999.
“Harvard Reaffirms an Old Tradition.” Architectural Record, vol. 104, no. 5, 1948, pp. 118–19, usmodernist.org/AR/AR-1948-11.pdf.
This building has been designated by the University Planning Office as having a Notable Interior.
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