Take any university tour, and it’s likely your guide will take a few moments to boast about their beautiful college quads. Short for quadrangle, the name historically refers to the central green space surrounded by academic buildings, though in some ways it has expanded to any large green space on university grounds. Movies or TV shows looking to depict a quintessential American college experience will often show students studying, playing frisbee, or even taking a nap on the verdant yard—though concept actually dates to Cambridge and Oxford in the United Kingdom. Nonetheless, quads are now often points of pride for universities and electric hubs where students and the greater community can gather. Below, the 13 most beautiful college quads in the United States.
A version of this article originally appeared in Architectural Digest.
