Social Sciences Building
Jaime Gilmour May 2005
Information about Young Research Library
The Social Sciences Building was added to North Campus in response to exponential increases in student enrollment and was completed in 1964. A large building was needed to accommodate this influx of students, but Chancellor Murphy did not want to deprive North Campus of its unique courtyards and open spaces that still characterize the home of the fine arts department. Thus, Murphy instructed architect Maynard Lyndon to expand upward, resulting in the construction of this unique structure which continues to dominate as the tallest building on campus.
Supported two stories off of the ground by sixteen piers, Bunche Hall has been subject to many rumors such as the supposed airlifting feat performed by NASA to rotate the building from its original location. Contrary to hearsay, Lyndon incorporated these pillars into his designs in order to comply with the plans of Landscape Architect Ralph Cornell. Cornell wanted this walkway to be a continuation of the Portola Plaza Drive in order to maintain the flow of student traffic from north to central campus.
The distinctive aesthetics of this social sciences
building differ drastically from the classic fifties style brick exterior
of central campus. This deviation from central campus was proposed to the
University Regents by Welton Becket and approved in the late forties. Unfortunately,
the more modern look of Bunche was not appreciated by everyone as evidenced
by one student’s comment recorded in an architectural survey taken
at the time.
“I am glad you are making this survey and if it will help prevent such monstrosities as the Waffle, then it will have served its purpose.”
Yet the contemporary design of Bunche Hall that earned it the nickname “The Waffle” was as much a product of convention as it was a deviation from the conservative style of the fifties. Realizing the south side of the building might present a heat problem with its sun exposure, Lyndon added 207 darkly tinted glass windows to the building’s brown tile surface. The outer window’s heat absorbing glass protrudes 14” from the building and minimizes the heat induction by 90%. Although they gave Bunche Hall its much ridiculed checkerboard look, these windows saved almost $50,000 that would have been spent on air conditioning.
The Social Sciences Building was later renamed after Nobel Peace Prize winner and UCLA alumnus Ralph Bunche in May of 1969.
“Any Way I look at it, Bunche Hall is beautiful-may I be permitted to add in these times-even though it’s not black,” Bunche states at the building’s dedication in 1969.
The University Research Library was added to North Campus to serve the graduates and faculty in the Humanities and Social Science departments. Designed by architects Jones and Emmons, this building was completed in 1964 as a part of the library expansion program. University Librarian Dr. Powell approved the location of this new branch of the library after plans to expand Powell library were rejected in 1954. He then hired former Harvard Librarian Keyes Metcalf to be in charge of many decisions required to divide the extensive book collection in Powell, and transfer the humanities and social sciences to the new addition. Dedicated to Chancellor Charles E. Young, the research library now contains more than three million of the over six million volumes in the UCLA Library System.
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Works Cited: Nystrom, Richard K. An Interpretation Considering Architecture and Site. 1968. 155-69.
Holt, Jessica. “Built to Last.” Daily Bruin. 17 Feb. 2000. 28 April 2005. www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/issues/oo/02.17//ae.architecture.html
“Ralph Bunche, UCLA Alumnus, Nobel Prize Winner.” UCLA Spotlight. 2003 UC Regents. 28 April 2005. www.ucla.edu/spotlight/archive/html_2003_2004/alum1003_bunche.html