Tower Group and Hutchinson Commons, Chicago

In 1903, Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge made a notable debut on the campus with a grand cluster of buildings anchoring the northeast corner of the Main Quadrangle. This architectural endeavor marked a growing emphasis on historicism, striving to align the interior spaces with the style of the exteriors, all of which exude a spacious and distinctly Old World ambiance.

In an early effort to establish a connection between their emerging institution and prestigious historic European universities, particularly those in England, benefactor Charles L. Hutchinson and architect Charles A. Coolidge embarked on a journey to Oxford to study its rich collegiate architectural heritage. The design of Mitchell Tower, the campus's first purely ornamental building, drew inspiration from the bell tower of Magdalen College. The ten Palmer chimes, named in honor of Alice Freeman Palmer, the first dean of women, continue to be employed for change ringing, a traditional English style of bell-ringing that some may find dissonant.

Initially serving as a men's dining hall, Hutchinson Commons took its cues from Oxford's Christ Church Hall. Visitors can relish an affordably priced meal in the grand dining room, notable for its impressive hammer-beam ceiling and an array of portraits depicting trustees and benefactors, including figures such as John D. Rockefeller and Martin Ryerson. The adjacent courtyard offers an inviting spot to explore.

Reynolds Club, the University's central student hub, draws inspiration from the 15th-century Saint John's College at Oxford, cultivating a homey atmosphere underscored by a staircase hall reminiscent of an English manor house.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Tower Group and Hutchinson Commons
Sight Location: Chicago, USA (See walking tours in Chicago)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

University of Chicago Walking Tour

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