Designed by Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge in 1904, the Harvard Medical School main quadrangle represents a significant architectural and historic element of the campus.

The Beaux Arts complex features five structures in a U-shape around a long open-ended courtyard. The core of the medical school and an anchor for the Longwood Medical Area, the quadrangle includes the administration building and four laboratory buildings.

The exterior facades use a white Dorset marble which was originally intended for the New York Public Library. The design addressed a 32-foot grade change from the upper site to Longwood Avenue by situating the administration building one story higher than the other four buildings. This complex was the firm’s first major project for Harvard University.

In 2012, we led a restoration of the windows and exterior of Gordon Hall, preserving historic architectural details while improving energy performance, occupant comfort, and life safety. The restoration involved careful craftsmanship, including hand-carved marble details created by stone masons using archival drawings.