When I see someone I know vaguely or meet someone new, a conversation with a lot of head nodding and awkward pauses persists, and I often mention where I go to school. And the conversation usually goes something like this:
Me: I go to State.
Person: Yeah, State is a good school, but the campus is so ugly. I mean, it has so many bricks. And you guys have cows and stuff.
I guess the more attractive a campus is, the better the quality of education. What is it about the bricks that people can’t get over?
First of all, our cows are amazing. Second, I actually love the bricks at N.C. State. I think they add character to the campus, and they make me feel welcome. I think places like the Brickyard give State a bold, signature look.
Feel free to disagree with me, but keep in mind that using bricks in the architecture can be a smart idea.
They can often be salvaged. They are also a sustainable building material when they are crushed and used over and over.
Brick companies sometimes use sewage sludge and flyash in their bricks, which can take harmful substances away from the environment and be put to good use, according to greenbuilder.com and popsci.com.
And it’s not like State is the only campus with bricks. I can’t think of a single campus without brick buildings. What are buildings supposed to be made of to be attractive, fairy dust and bonbons?
Some say the bricks give the campus a monotonous look, but maybe the University is trying to tell us something through its architecture. The bricks give campus a consistent look, and consistency is the key to success.
OK, that was a bit of a stretch.
And sure, West Campus isn’t easy on the eyes, but if you walk around East Campus, you’ll see attractive brick buildings like Holladay Hall, the Honors Village Commons and the 1911 Building.
With the abundance of bricks comes the opportunity to help the University grow. People can purchase engraved bricks to be put in walkways and brick structures around State, and the proceeds goes toward improving that organization.
Several colleges and places on campus provide this opportunity to donate money to the school, such as First Year College Commons, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, D.H. Hill Library, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the J.C. Raulston Arboretum, just to name a few.
So be thankful for the bricks we have. Otherwise the Brickyard could be a grassy field full of mud and creaky, wooden paths instead of being 226,200 glorious bricks.
E-mail your Jane your thoughts on bricks to [email protected].