10. Crosley Tower
The Crosley tower is more of an honorable mention on this list, the only historical memory of it will be how awful it is. Named after Powel Crosley and built in 1969 this massive brutalist piece of trash is an eyesore inside and out. The vibe on the inside feels like you’re inside of a vacuum where time stands still. Interestingly enough, it’s the second largest single pour concrete structure in the world, in turn, making it the largest single pour concrete mistake in the world. Luckily the Crosley tower is due for demolition in the next few years.Hopefully it will be replaced with something as interesting as the Langsam Library or DAAP buildings neighboring it.
9. Muntz Hall
Muntz Hall was built in 1967, marking the founding of Blue Ash campus. Designed by Harry Hake, the same architect that designed Tangeman University Center on main campus, it acted as an all purpose building to start off the campus. Muntz was doubled in size, with a new wing in 1974, and renovated again in 2001. The plan seems to be to keep renovating, as there is currently a $4 million renovation happening to the second and third floor. The historical presence of Muntz is less about the architecture and design of the building itself, and more about the fact that it was the first building to be constructed on Blue Ash campus.
8. DAAP Building
The Design, Architecture, Art and Planning building is sort of a combination of the Alms building, built in 1952, the DAA building, built in 1958, and Wolfson Hall built in 1976. These buildings were all attached to each other with the construction of Aronoff Center designed by Peter Eisenman in 1996.The building was intentionally very different than the already constructed buildings, in an attempt to encourage change throughout the planning and design of the campus.
7. Nippert Stadium
The field itself, was completed a little before that in 1910 and named Carson field after Arch Carson, the director of original football team. The construction of Nippert stadium as we know today, was begun in 1915 and completed in 1924. This makes Nippert the fourth oldest actively used college football stadium. Nippert Stadium was named after James Gamble Nippert, who played center in 1923. James received an injury during the game, and later died from an infection. His grandfather James N. Gamble, 50% of the namesake for Procter & Gamble, donated $250,000 (worth about $3.7 million in 2019) and that money was used to transform the stadium to the modern version, and also add a medical facility for players.
6: Walter C. Langsam Library
Walter C. Langsam library is without a doubt the best place to study on campus, there is typically always a seat somewhere in the stacks, and if you’re lucky you can get a private study room. Langsam library was opened in 1978 under the name “Central library” but despite that, the interior is one of the most modern on campus. Langsam is a result of the fact that the libraries on campus before it were all very small and lacking in many modern commodities, so it was built to last a while and sustain a large collection.
5: The Engineering Research Center
The Engineering Research center was designed in 1995 by the 2012 Driehaus Architecture prize award holder and UC alumni Michael Graves. This building not only looks cool, but is very functional. (as most engineering related things are) It is located directly next to the other engineering building, and even has bridges connecting the two, as well as a small patio to study on. This building isn’t exactly old by any means, but is sure to become a historic building with such a prestigious designer and challenging architecture.
4: McMicken Hall
McMicken college was built with money Charles McMicken left to the city of Cincinnati after he died in 1857. Which sounds cool and all, but he only really wanted white students to be able to attend, which definitely isn’t cool. However, when the location of that building proved to be a bad learning environment as it was next to factories and on a hill, in 1894 they relocated to the Burnet woods area, and build another hall, named McMicken Hall. This marked the founding of the University of Cincinnati.
3: Van Wormer Library
Opened May 1, 1901, this is the oldest standing building on the UC campus and was made possible from the donation of $50,000 in street rail-car stock by Asa Van Wormer. It was renovated once in 1930, when they had to remove the dome on the roof due to water damage. A dome was re-added in the second renovation, which was a full renovation of all the floors and roof, costing $10.7 million. The building was only actually a library for a couple years. It has since become classrooms and finally administration offices.
2: Memorial Hall
Memorial hall was built in 1924 as a women’s dorm building. The hall was converted to a building dedicated to teaching and practicing music and opened in 1996. With over 70 interesting rooms, some of which still have fireplaces and other antique features, you’re sure to find a place to fit in. The doors and windows are also intentionally not sound proof, so walking in the hallways and standing outside the building you will hear nice music at any point during the day. Furthermore, on the outside of the building, there are many small sculptures and facades that show imagery from World War One.
1: Tangeman University Center
The Tangeman University Center is one of the most useful buildings on campus, it holds the bookstore, several restaurants, and a massive eating and studying area, along with a theater many presentation/conference rooms. It has gone through many changes, as it was first built in 1937 by Harry Hake and his son, expanded on in 1967, then completely renovated in 2004 to become what it is now. The meshing of the different design styles on the outside can seem off putting, but the inside is all completely modern and open, and truly a beautiful space. The original tower still stands in the middle, and is the centerpiece of the campus.
