UCLA’s architecture is no exception to what makes the campus so beautiful. While the campus is known for its signature Romanesque style, the history of these buildings roots further back.
Court of Sciences Student Center
The Court of Sciences Student Center is shielded by the plant-covered awning, providing shade on particularly sunny days. While the Court of Sciences food court was nicknamed “The Bombshelter,” it was never truly used for this purpose. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
Outdoor seating at the Court of Sciences is surrounded by different trees, providing cool shade while still allowing rays of sunlight to pass through. It is thought that the name originated from the architectural style of the concrete walls, which people felt resembled bomb shelters used during war. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
The indoor seating is lit with warm-colored lighting to create an ambient environment for people to eat, study and socialize. Opened in 1974-1975, the “Bombshelter Deli and Burger Bar” was one of the first eateries on the south side of campus. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
The numerous entrances to “The Bombshelter” give way to its numerous eateries. In 2010 it went under a two-year construction, later reopening under today’s name: “The Court of Sciences Student Center.” Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
John Wooden Center
The John Wooden Center, located in the heart of campus along Bruin Walk, is lined with different plants leading the eye toward the glass wall of the entrance. Popularly known within the UCLA sports realm, John Wooden was the coach of the 10-time national championship-winning basketball team. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
As the sun sets on the west side, it highlights the path leading towards the John Wooden Center gym. Apart from Wooden’s championship success, his moral values are also celebrated, reflected in the Pyramid of Success displayed in the gym in his honor. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
Kerckhoff Hall
Framed by the different trees throughout UCLA’s campus lies Kerckhoff Hall. William G. Kerckhoff was a successful businessman in the lumber industry. He and his wife, Louise Kerckhoff, were large donors toward the construction of Kerckhoff Hall. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
Grand pine trees lead from the bottom of a hill up towards the brick building, accentuating its height. Kerckhoff began his career at Jackson Lumber and established himself in the Los Angeles area. Just before his passing, he asked his wife to make an $815,000 donation in honor of his friend Ernest Carroll Moore to establish the first home for UCLA’s student union, which is the Kerckhoff Hall we know today. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
As the sun sets on Kerckhoff Hall, the shadows within the arches create a strong contrast in the lighting. Kerckhoff Hall finished construction in 1931. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
James Bridges Theater
The statue in the center of the James Bridges Theater entrance breaks up the symmetry of the local theater on campus. The on-campus theater was named in honor of film director James Bridges, with his most notable film being “The China Syndrome,” released in 1979. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
The theater, with its entrance located on the left side of the grid-style gate, is home to on-campus performances. Its latest renovation was in 2003 with upgrades to the sound system, as well as the ability to support films of various stock sizes. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
Fowler Museum
As the sunsets along the Fowler Museum, the trees and different dimensions of the building create strong shadows and highlights along the building. Formerly located in the basement of Haines Hall, the Fowler Foundation helped sponsor the construction of the Fowler Museum we see today. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
The white tile highlights the focal points of the red brick building, as the building in front creates an intense shadow along the entrance. On Sept. 30, 1992, the Fowler Museum of Cultural History opened, and now it houses art globally from Africa, North America, the Pacific Islands and Asia. Photo credit: Katelyn Michel
