In recent years, Stevens has undergone significant development around campus: from constructing the tallest building in Hoboken to renovating some of the older amenities for students. While these projects are certainly exciting for the entire Stevens community, we tend to forget the history and purpose behind some of the lesser-known buildings around campus. This article provides a brief introduction to these structures and to how they continue to serve the Stevens community, even after many decades of operation.
Starting strong with a historically prominent structure is the Gatehouse, located between Davis Hall and Babbio Patio. Many students may not know this, but until eight years ago, a castle wall stood where Gatehouse is, dividing Wittpenn Walk into an upper and lower campus. To make way for the construction of the Gateway buildings, the wall had to be taken down to accommodate the large construction vehicles. As a memorial to the original Stevens Castle of the Stevens family estate, Gatehouse was restored in 2016 with fresh brick and roofing.
Boasting some of the best views of the New York City skyline Hoboken has to offer, the Hoxie House is where the president of Stevens calls home. William Hoxie, a graduate of the class of 1889, funded and aided in the construction of the residence in the 1920s. Ever since, Stevens’ presidents have lived in and hosted community events here, most notably the “Pancakes With the President” event founded by current Stevens President Nariman Farvardin in 2019.
Although the primary entrances front Hudson Street and the walkway behind DeBaun Athletic Complex, respectively, the Davidson Laboratory and James C. Nicoll Environmental Laboratory (JNEL) are campus staples, home to the nationally-recognized hydrodynamics, ocean engineering, and environmental research facilities. Constructed in 1935, the Davidson Laboratory houses cutting-edge research assets, including a 320-foot-long high-speed towing tank, used for simulating realistic aquatic conditions. JNEL comes equipped with state-of-the-art technology for testing wastewater, liquid waste, solid waste, and air quality. Although tucked away on campus, these facilities serve more than 4,000 marine, aerospace, defense, and environmental industry leaders, in addition to the Hoboken community, with flood and environmental reporting.
Among the newest and oldest buildings on campus, the Vincent A. Rocco Technology Center and Griffith Building, respectively, both serve important purposes to Stevens students. Both part of the Schaefer School of Engineering, the Rocco Technology Center, located next to River Terrace Suites, includes classrooms and faculty offices specifically for the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Ocean Engineering. Across campus, situated along the Hudson River and Frank Sinatra Boulevard, the Griffith Building serves the Schaefer School of Engineering broadly, supporting student-led projects competing in the Solar Decathlon and the Senior Design Expo, to name a few.
Stevens, founded in 1865, boasts plenty of antique architectural designs to admire. While Stevens students are familiar with the classics, like Edwin A. Stevens Hall, Burchard Hall, and the Samuel C. Williams Library, it’s important to take the time to learn and reflect on the other buildings that contribute to the campus we call home.
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