Buildings and campuses may change over time, but memories from within them will always endure. DesignGroup’s John Ryan reflects on the emotional lives of buildings, a melody that continues over time.
By John Ryan, AIA LEED AP, Associate Principal, Project Manager
There are a few songs in our popular music lexicon that lead me on a thought journey into architectural design and urban planning. I heard one of my favorites driving home recently: the Beatles song, “In My Life.”
There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain
The song was inspired by John Lennon’s regular bus route through Liverpool, and features a keyboard solo adapted from Bach, adding to its layers of time and history and space. The theme isn’t unique, of course – with many lyrics across rock and pop music musing on place. This one prompts a deep nostalgia in me for places that have changed – some forever, some gone, some remaining.
It makes me think of Moseley Hall at BGSU. I first encountered the building in the mid 90’s during my father’s graduate school studies in English. A decade or so later I taught architectural studio courses there. Eventually the building was renovated by DesignGroup and partners to provide a new home for the interdisciplinary sciences. From humanities to design to science, Moseley Hall was the background in the story for countless students in its 100+ year history. And will continue to be.
The song also brought to mind a project for University of Pittsburgh, a building constructed, coincidentally, the year I was born. During the demolition phase our contractor found, among other issues, many walls that simply weren’t square or plumb. It had nevertheless once been a medical office building, providing clinical services (straight walls or not) to the general public for decades. Today it’s home to the university’s IT department.
I love how buildings evolve over time, shaping our use of space and the order of our actions. They’re more than backgrounds to our memories – they’re active participants in our lives.
I think back on Stradley Hall, my freshman dorm at Ohio State. The building still exists but has been renovated and expanded as part of changing trends for student life in the 21st century. My small room in the year 2000, with its well-worn cabinetry and linoleum flooring, had more in common with campus life in 1960 than that of 2024. Despite these changes, I carry a mix of memories for life in Stradley – the thrill of building new relationships, the jolt of living with 500 other freshmen in a single building.
Architecture strives to create buildings that will outlive us, that will serve the needs of present and future generations alike. Yet sometimes buildings succumb to weather and time, or no longer serve our needs. We see this in the current landscape of higher education where needs may have changed, enrollment may have wavered, or older buildings simply cannot adapt to meet current pedagogy. Demolition of aging infrastructure yields new opportunities to imagine a future use of that same space.
I vividly recall buildings from campuses where I’ve studied and worked that no longer exist, the lights turned off forever. I can still see the classrooms where I used to sit, chatting with friends before class began. I can smell the scent of the design studio and feel the dust hanging in the air of the woodshop. Though these buildings no longer exist, it doesn’t make my experience of them any less real. My memories of those places are melded with my college experience, and the nostalgia takes on greater value as each successive year passes.
Our buildings and campuses shape us; in turn our lives and stories give these places meaning. Our experiences were real; our memories continue to be real. As the song says, we can look upon these places which have changed, and not always for better, with fondness. All these places had their moments…in my life, I’ve loved them all.
John Ryan, AIA, LEED AP | Associate Principal, Project Manager
John assisted in the launch and continued growth of DesignGroup’s Pittsburgh office which opened in 2017. He is an unwavering professional with a balanced and fair stance on many issues. He exemplifies “steady hand on the wheel” as he effectively manages dozens of projects, fosters collaboration, promotes great design and serves as a trusted advisor to his healthcare and higher education clients. John also serves on the AIA Pittsburgh Board of Directors.