3 Texas colleges considered by Architectural Digest among ‘most beautiful’ in America
When you think about college in Texas, you think about boots and football. But have you ever considered the beautiful campuses?
Three Texas schools made Architecture Digest’s list of 64 of the most beautiful college campuses. Included on the list were Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Baylor University in Waco and Rice University in Houston.
Architecture Digest is a monthly magazine that has circulated since the 1920s. The publication mainly focuses on architecture through landscaping and interior design.
“Many schools have beautiful elements—like immaculate dining halls, otherworldly dorms, or jaw-dropping libraries—but the schools on the following list stun across the board,” said AD in its report, “Like a well-styled outfit, from the entry arches to academic halls and manicured lawns, everything on these grounds works in harmony to create a place as beautiful as it is educational.”
For this particular list, they considered architectural history and legacy. Architecture Digest named the prettiest college campus University of Hawaii at Manoa because of its breathtaking views of Hawaii’s Diamond Head.
The most beautiful Texas college campuses
The first Texas school on the list at No. 14 is Baylor University in Waco. Only an hour and a half from Fort Worth, this Gregorian-style campus is crawling with red brick and trees. The Gregorian style is often inspired by Greek and Roman architecture. Common characteristics are brick or stone, symmetrical designs, and ornate doorways with columns.
At No. 16 is Rice University in Houston. This campus is only about four hours and 15 minutes away from Fort Worth. The campus is unique with light-colored brick and red roofs.
AD describes it as, “You might mistake Rice University for being in California, thanks to the campus’s Mediterranean Revival style, but it’s actually located in Houston. Shown is the elegant Lovett Hall with Byzantine and Romanesque elements.”
Finally, at No. 25 is Southern Methodist University in Dallas. This is the closest campus to Fort Worth and only about a 40-minute drive. Similar to Baylor, SMU has bright red Texas brick with Gregorian-style columns. Dallas Hall was the first building built there, inspired by the University of Virginia’s Rotunda, which was modeled after the Pantheon in Rome.