Graham-Lees Hall at Washington and Lee, looking like a luxury hotel from this vantage point on a parapet by the Warner Athletic Center.Two earlier dorms, Graham and Lees, were joined in 1940 to make this U-shaped residence hall for freshmen. According to the W&L website, the entire structure was renovated in the 1980s at a total cost of over $3 million, or about $12,000 per room. So -- luxury hotel is not so far off. Though I suspect the residents don't quite see it that way.
5 comments:
Very nice shot for some who's "not a photographer"! Congratulations, and this is a fine-looking campus. I wonder how much the young folks' parents have to pay to keep them in $12,000 rooms?
My son is now living in G-L, and wow, luxury hotel it is NOT. I imagine the $12K per room was spent on upgrading wiring and plumbing. In the meantime, I don't think anything has been done in the last almost 20 years- so its ripe for a reno.The rooms are small, furniture basic (bunk beds, dresser & desk per student), there is no AC, the heating pipes are exposed, floors are linoleum, hall baths are tiny and dated. Common areas are limited and basement laundry room serves other dorms as well and is NOT a nice place to put your clean clothes. BUT the campus is lovely,and part of the freshman experience is leaving your feathered nest and living in very basic accomodations.
I lived in Graham-Lees almost 20 years ago, and it was spartan then. Women had been at W&L for a few years and the only adjustment made in the residence halls (and academic buildings) was to build wooden boxes around the urinals when men's restrooms were converted to women's restrooms. Though it was not luxurious, I have many fond memories of my time spent in Graham-Lees.
Oh GL. How I miss thee! Definitely not a luxury hotel by any stretch of the imagination, but, I agree, some of my fondest memories of freshman year occurred in those hallways. It really is in desperate need of an update, though. When I graduated a few years ago, it was on the agenda for an update, but the Colonnade renovations are first on the list.
Note to the blogger: A good detail shot might be the right side of the step into the breezeway through to the GL courtyard. It's been tradition to pass through the two rightmost columns instead of the center for fear of bad luck (particularly in your studies). The concrete is dramatically worn down and slick as glass from generations of feet passing over the same step.
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