Harvard Pays $1 Million For Design School Tract

The University will put the new Graduate School of Design on a plot of land near Memorial Hall. The building's original site--Hunt Hall, in the northeast corner of the Yard--will be used for other construction, probably a freshman dormitory.

The relocation of the Design School was made possible by the purchase of nearly two acres of land on Quincy St., roughly between Burr and William James Halls. The price which Harvard paid to the present owner--the New Church Theological School--is reported to be close to $1 million.

Both President Pusey and Dean Ford said last week that they were pleased with the new site. "I think that the College will have the whole Yard to itself now," Ford declared.

William A. Doebele, Jr., the Design School's associate dean for development, termed the new location "far superior because it's much larger."

Construction of the Design School, which will consolidate offices and classrooms now scattered in four buildings, cannot begin until about $4 million is raised to supplement a $2 million federal grant. Federal officials will also have to review the new site, but the University expects little trouble in gaining approval.

Because of time needed for fund-raising and construction, however, it may be as long as four years before the Design School will vacate Hunt. Then the building will be demolished because most members of the Administration consider it ugly. A new freshman dormitory is tentatively scheduled for the area, although no official decision has been made.

Robinson Hall, one of the Design School's other buildings, will also go to the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. Dean Ford said last week that Robinson would be renovated and used for classroom space.

To free the Hunt Hall area for other construction, the University has long sought an alternate site for the Design School. A number of sites were reviewed; some were committed to other buildings, however, and others the Design School considered too far from the Yard.

Actually, the new site -- which does not include the small Swedenborgian Church at the corner of Quincy and Kirkland Streets -- will probably accommodate more than the Design School. Harold L. Goyette, the University's planning officer, said last week that "there is potentially some property there for another facility."

The Design School will be "so developed to allow for future use," he stated. At present, he added, there are no plans to raze the University-owned Ambassador Hotel, which is adjacent to the site, to consolidate a large land area. "The Am- bassador is such a substantial building -- and its in good condition -- that it can adequately serve the University for many years."

The New Church Theological School will move from Cambridge to Newton sometime in the late spring or summer. It has acquired an estate there for its campus.

There are now two wooden buildings on the Quincy St. site. They will probably be used as office space until the University is ready to begin construction.

The actual deed for the land has not been passed yet, but the University and the Theological School have signed a binder committing themselves to the transaction