In architecture , a quadrangle (or colloquially, a quad ) is a space or a courtyard , usually rectangular (square or oblong) in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building (or several smaller buildings). The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles are also found in other buildings such as palaces . Most quadrangles are open-air, though a few have been roofed over (often with glass), to provide additional space for social meeting areas or coffee shops for students.
6-577: Beit Hall , forming part of Beit Quadrangle , is a hall of residence and one of Imperial College London 's oldest and most historic buildings. Beit Hall is named after Alfred Beit and is located on Prince Consort Road , next to the Royal Albert Hall in London . The north side of the quadrangle forms the Union Building, home to Imperial College Union , and is not part of Beit Hall. The Union Building
12-545: A London building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article relating to Imperial College London is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Quadrangle (architecture) The word quadrangle was originally synonymous with quadrilateral , but this usage is now relatively uncommon. Some modern quadrangles resemble cloister gardens of medieval monasteries , called garths , which were usually square or rectangular, enclosed by covered arcades or cloisters. However, it
18-592: A conference centre and hotel. On the front façade is a relief of the coat of arms of Imperial College . Books left by students in Beit were collected into a circulation library of around 400 items for personal reading in the Union Building in the mid-20th century. This later became the Haldane Library and is now part of the main library collection . 51°30′00″N 0°10′41″W / 51.500°N 0.178°W / 51.500; -0.178 This article about
24-461: Is clear from the oldest examples (such as Mob Quad ) which are plain and unadorned with arcades, that the medieval colleges at Oxford and Cambridge were creating practical accommodation for college members. Grander quadrangles that look like cloisters came later, once the idea of a college was well established and benefactors or founders wished to create more monumental buildings. Although architectonically analogous, for historical reasons quads in
30-622: The colleges of the University of Cambridge are always referred to as courts (such as the Trinity Great Court ). In North America, Thomas Jefferson 's design for the University of Virginia centered the housing and academic buildings in a Palladian form around three sides of the Lawn , a huge grassy expanse. Later, some American college and university planners imitated the Jeffersonian plan,
36-457: Was the site of the first Queen concert, and has hosted events associated with the BBC Proms . Beit Hall was built on architect Aston Webb 's designs to accommodate Imperial College students. Parts of the building were originally used for academic purposes: It accommodates 330 students. During term-time , Beit Hall functions as student halls, whilst during the remaining 14 weeks Beit becomes
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