Sever Hall Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Sever Hall, Harvard University
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
U.S. Historic district Contributing property

Sever Hall, east facade.
Location	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Built	1878
Architect	Henry Hobson Richardson
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival
Part of	Harvard Yard Historic District (ID87002137)
NRHP reference No.	70000732
Added to NRHP	December 30, 1970
Designated NHL	December 30, 1970
Designated CP	December 14, 1987

Sever Hall is a famous building at Harvard University. It was designed by a well-known American architect, H. H. Richardson. The building was finished in the late 1870s. You can find it in Harvard Yard in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1970, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place. Many people see it as one of Richardson's best works.

Building History and Design
What Sever Hall Is Used For
- Past and Present Uses
- Student Activities
Gallery
See also

Building History and Design

Sever Hall was built between 1878 and 1880. A woman named Anne Sever gave money for it. She wanted to honor her husband, James Warren Sever, who had passed away. The building was made for learning. It has classrooms, lecture halls, and offices for professors.

Unique Architectural Style

The building's style is known as Richardsonian Romanesque. This style often uses stone. But Sever Hall is special because it's made from red brick. It's a great example of how beautiful brick buildings can be.

Size and Special Features

Sever Hall is about 176 feet long and 74 feet wide. Its main part is about 50 feet tall. The roof adds another 30 feet to its height. It has three main floors. There is also a fourth floor hidden within the roof.

The front of the building (west side) has two round sections. These are placed around a main entrance. This entrance is inside a deep, curved archway. The back of the building (east side) looks similar. However, its entrance is simpler and rectangular. The sides of the building are mostly plain with many windows.

Bricks and a Secret Whisper Spot

About 1.3 million bricks were used to build Sever Hall. Around 100,000 of these bricks make up the outside walls. These walls feature 60 different kinds of red bricks. They also have fancy brick carvings.

There's a cool secret about the archway at the west entrance. If you whisper into the bricks on one side, someone standing on the other side can hear you clearly! It's like a natural whispering gallery.

Why Architects Love Sever Hall

In recent years, many experts have become very interested in Sever Hall. A famous architect named Robert Venturi once said it was his "favorite building in America." He told a reporter that he loved how the building was both useful and beautiful. He said he could look at its amazing details all day.

What Sever Hall Is Used For

Sever Hall is mostly used for classes. It has small classrooms and larger lecture halls. Many humanities courses are taught here. This includes small group classes and beginner language lessons. Classes for the Harvard Extension School also take place here.

Past and Present Uses

For many years, the Grossman Library was on the third floor. This library was for Extension School students. But in the late 2010s, its services moved to other Harvard libraries.

Many students don't even know about the fourth floor. The main stairs don't go there. This floor holds offices for Harvard's Visual and Environmental Studies department.

Student Activities

In the evenings and on weekends, student groups use Sever Hall. They hold meetings and special events. One popular event is Vericon. This is a science fiction convention. It's run by the Harvard-Radcliffe Science-Fiction Association. It happens during the break between semesters.