Landscaping

This collection of photos showcases how Wellesley’s built and natural landscapes have changed since its founding. Many of the changes seen on campus were implemented after the College consulted Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) on a landscape architecture masterplan. This plan includes limiting parking on the main areas of campus, restoring natural meadows, and practicing the most sustainable landscape management techniques. Today, Wellesley’s landscape management includes policies on retaining topsoil from building projects to be replaced at sites later, limited and informed use of pesticides and ice melt salt, and returning leaf litter to the campus understory. Along with continued efforts to restore and maintain campus architecture and facilities, we hope to keep our campus as sustainable as possible.

One of the areas on campus that has changed the most also contains some of the oldest pieces of Wellesley’s history: Science Hill. The Observatory has sat on the Science Hill overlooking what is now the Edible Ecosystem since 1900, watching the campus landscape evolve over time. During the College’s founding, mown lawns and formal gardens were popular in landscape architecture. Following the implementation of the 1998 master plan from MVVA, the amount of cars on campus became limited and the College began to embrace the natural meadows of the land. The tall tree layer of what is now the edible ecosystem is the white oak, visible in each picture of the hill since its founding; that means this tree is over 125 years old!

Future site of Sage Hall 1900-1927

Whitin Observatory 1900-1990

Observatory Hill 1906-1926

Observatory Hill 1912

Sage Hall 1927-1931

Observatory 1940-1970

Arboretum path 1969-1970

Science Center front 1977

Science Center and Sage Hall 1977

This collection of aerial photos showcases many of the ways the campus has changed, expanded and modernized over the years. These photos can also help us see just how the paths and built environment of the campus have changed leading up to 1998. If you’re familiar with the campus layout as it exists today, it only takes a brief glance to see the ways in which the Landscape Master Plan changes have impacted campus.

Aerial View of Campus 1923-1926

Aerial 1919-1928/9

Aerial View 1921

Aerial 1924-1931

Aerial 1925

Aerial View 1953-1956

Aerial 1958-1970

Aerial 1970

Aerial 1970

Aerial View 1973

Academic Quad Aerial 1973

Severance Hill has been a beloved campus space since the College opened its doors. It has hosted commencement times over, been the gathering place on Lake Day, and is still the prime spot for sledding, although we no longer have dining hall trays. Two of the college’s oldest visible trees reside by the green, the class tree of 1886, a catalpa tree, and a white oak. As with other areas of the campus, the early years of the college marked a time where the features of the campus ecosystem were not embraced and much of the natural meadows were mown frequently. Over the past two decades, the Wellesley Landscaping crew has embraced natural and sustainable meadows, recycled organic matter from the landscape, and many other sustainable initiatives.

Tower and Claflin 1915 -1925

Severance Hill 1926-1940

Severance Hill 1926-1990

Severance Hill 1970-1980

Severance Hill 1977

Severance Hill 1980

Founders 1918-1928

Founders and Green 1931-1948

Founders 1924

Green Construction 1931

Pendelton 1950-1955

Founders 1950-1955

Green and Pendelton 1950-1960

Jewett Arts Center date uncertain

Jewett 1957-1958

Jewett 1958-1968

Jewett 1959-1990

Academic Quad 1965

Waban 1875-1931

Waban from Steps 1875-1931

Waban 1875-1931

Waban from Tower 1930-1960

Waban 1970-1989