same place, new eyes

On this visit, my eye was attuned to the outdoor spaces at Oberlin and particularly some striking forms of trees and other plants:

The vines on Hall auditorium:


River birch in front of the gym:


A row of olive trees beside the track:


The new jazz building has a dramatic exterior stair and rooftop garden with a contemporary design sensibility. I felt that this was somehow Oberlin's version of Manhattan's High Line park-- yes, a stretch!-- but the combination of wood and metal reminded me of that sleek but somewhat industrial style. I guess the real test of the design is how it works as a performance and practice space, and I didn't go inside.