One of the fascinating things when learning about history, is taking a step back and analyzing how different an event could formed had a different decision been made. That is what in essence, my group mates and I will try to discern in regard to Carleton’s architectural history. What if Musser was not originally going look like a shoe-box (it really does look like a box)? Or what about the buildings that were proposed but never formed? In fact, my academic advisor even told me that once there was a deliberation on having phones installed in rooms or tunnels built to connect the dorms. Given the extreme Minnesota weather, tunnels should’ve won the debate, but cellphones had yet to make an appearance then, so phones it was.
I wonder how different the aerial view would be had different decisions be made in regards to the buildings.
I think it will be interesting to learn about Carleton’s history, and what could have been. It’s like you know a secret that no many know. But besides just knowing that secret of history, trying to remodel and viewing that campus in a whole different perspectives via a DH project will be fascinating.
You can read more about our project here.
I agree, the creation of tunnels to dorms should have won! I wonder if there are drafts that illustrate how the tunnels would have been built. It would be really interesting to see a visual of these tunnels to decipher how they would have worked out.
This project seems really interesting. I have always wondered what if Carleton chose to open the tunnels that are currently closed or build more tunnels. Is your group primary going to look at the differences in campus or the effects that the differences in the campus would have on students? Either or both topics are great, and I look forward to seeing your final product.