University of Tennesse: Voted 21st Ugliest College Campus
By MonsterMash
Sep 7, 2013; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers cheerleaders during Vol Walk prior to the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Most Kentucky fans have never made a road trip through Knoxville to see the University of Tennessee. However, it hasn’t stopped many of those that have yet to visit from forming a distateful opinion of the campus. Those that have had the misfortune have seen the hideousness that is Tennessee and don’t write home about it… and if they do, it often includes pictures and is written to those they don’t favor.
Well Kentucky fans, the people over at Complex.com agree and ranked the Vols campus as the 21st ugliest campus in the United States.
"College is supposed to be the best four years of your life. Nervous young freshmen emerge on university grounds with big dreams and expectations. Seniors bade teary farewells during graduation. From the day you move into your tiny dorm room to the day you walk away in a cap and gown, college seems like an extended vacation from the “real world.”Unfortunately, not all campuses were designed to reflect this optimistic view of college life. We looked at some truly horrible American college campuses to point out what universities are doing wrong. Some, like Rutgers’ New Brunswick campus, were poorly planned, so students feel isolated and friendless. Others, like New York’s Rochester Institute of Technology, are filled with architectural eyesores that make their campuses look more like institutions or prisons than havens of learning. Taking into account location, planning, decentralized campuses, and inappropriately mixed styles of architecture, we’ve created a list of"
While Tennessee likely made the list because the writer associated prison with the Vols and “prison like” found them on the list, Tennessee may see it as a selling point. College is supposed to train people for their future. My guess is that Tennessee knows their athletes and student body and just wanted to design an experience that would fit their future…prison.
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"21. University of TennesseeLocation: Knoxville, Tenn. Year Built: 1794 Key Architects: VariousWe don’t think it’s a coincidence that the University of Tennessee’s school color is orange, since the campus is overrun with orange brick. The John C. Hodges library is one of the campus’ main offenders, with its setback levels reminiscent of a children’s LEGO building."
What are your thoughts? NC State (#41) and Louisville (Not listed) would certainly have been on my least favorite places to see. Personally, Indiana and Notre Dame have two of the prettiest campuses I’ve visited.