Spanning the university’s genesis in 1789 through to today, the forthcoming summer book, Georgetown University: An Architectural History, provides the reader a close look at over fifty campus buildings. This book presentation will explore the Georgetown University campus over time with highlights of its historical and modern architecture, from the Old North building (1795) to its twenty-first-century development. With modern photographs as well as historical images drawn from the university archives, we will discuss the background of Georgetown’s buildings. The talk will highlight multiple periods in the university’s history including its entanglement with slavery, the presidencies of Patrick Healy, SJ and W. Coleman Nevils, SJ as well as its mid-twentieth century and later university leadership. The Georgetown campus includes architecture by leading historical and contemporary designers such as John Smithmeyer and Paul Pelz, Emile Perrot, John Carl Warnecke, Hugh Hardy, Hugh Newell Jacobsen, and Robert A.M. Stern Architects. The buildings exemplify a host of architectural styles including Federal, Romanesque Revival, Gothic Revival, International Style, Brutalist and Postmodern. No longer extant campus buildings, changes in the university landscape and connections to broader trends in American campus development will be highlighted. Lastly, we will also address the book’s curriculum connected development.
Download the book flyer here!
About the Speaker
Stephanie Rufino is an architectural and art historian and has published on the decoration and architecture of both the Washington National Cathedral and historic American banks from the 1920s. Dr. Rufino holds a PhD in American art and architectural history from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. She graduated cum laude from Smith College and also earned a master’s degree in art history. Dr. Rufino taught architectural history at Georgetown for over a decade, where she also served in multiple university leadership roles. She currently serves as Director of Undergraduate Design Programs and Associate Professor at Wentworth’s School of Architecture & Design in Boston.
In-Person Attendance
The lecture will take place at The First Congregational United Church of Christ, Second Floor, 945 G Street NW, Washington, DC. Reservations are not required. $10.00 for Latrobe Chapter members, student members (full time) free with ID, $15.00 for non-members. Doors will open at 6:30 pm for socialization and refreshments; lecture will begin at 7:00 pm.
We are considering whether we are able to offer a virtual option for members. If we do offer the lecture via Zoom, we will send out registration information in advance.
