In this section

• About the Simmons College Archives
  • College Archives Forms
• Collections and Resources
  • College Records
  • Manuscripts Collection
  • Historical Book Collections
  • Charities Collection
  • Notable Women of Simmons College Digital Scrapbook Collection
• Simmons College History
  • A Brief History of Simmons College
  • Presidents of Simmons College
  • Women of Simmons College, 1900-1920
  • Traditions of Simmons College
  • Buildings of Simmons College
  • History of Garland Junior College
• Records Management
  • Storage and Retrieval of Records
  • Records Retention Schedules
  • Electronic Records Guidelines
  • Vital Records Guidelines

Simmons College Archives

The Buildings of Simmons College
The Main College Building

The Main College Buildling, 1905

In 1903, the Corporation of Simmons College purchased land next to Mrs. Gardner's Fenway Court (now the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum) for $180,000 to serve as the permanent site of the College.

The architectural firm of Peabody and Stearns designed and constructed a four-story main building in 1904 just in time for the fall semester--almost. Apprehensive faculty, students, and staff moved in during the final stages of interior construction, stepping around the unfinished and unpainted areas. The main building was 172 feet long and 81 feet deep, with two side ells projecting from the back measuring 88 feet long by 34 feet wide each.

The Main College Building included classrooms, offices, typing and shorthand rooms, and laboratories for biology, chemistry and cooking.

A west wing was added in 1909, and an east wing in 1929, for a college building totaling 155,000 square feet.

Detail of a 1905 map showing the location of the Main College Buildling at 300 The Fenway.

 

The Main College Building in 1909

 

The Main College Building photographed from across the Fenway, 1940

 

Aerial shot of the Main College Building against the Boston skyline, 1970

Major renovations were done to the Main College Building in the late 1970s as part of the PRDIE Campaign. The glass-walled College Center was constructed on the rear terrace of the building in 2000.

The College Center, 2000.

 

The College Archives is pleased to present this historical survey of the buildings of Simmons College--from the earliest classrooms, and offices in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, through the construction of the Main College Building at 300 The Fenway, the development of the Residence Campus, and recent addiitons of academic buildings and the construction and renovation of a new library.

Join us for a tour of the Buildings of Simmons College

Early Simmons Buildings

The Main College Building

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The Early Residence Campus and Freshman Campus

The Modern Residence Campus

The School of Social Work

The School of Management

 

Please Note: The images and text on the Simmons College Archives web site are made available for study purposes only. They may not be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the Simmons College Archives. For further information, please call 617-521-2440.

Page updated: July 8, 2008