Academic Quad
The heart of the 120-acre master-planned campus is the Quad, lined with the College's original Beaux Arts buildings and the mid-century Herrick Chapel. The benches under the oaks are a favorite place to talk, study, or go online (most of the campus is wireless). Quadsitting is one of Oxy's oldest and most frequently observed traditions: the combination of Southern California weather and Beatrix Farrand's landscaping has made it a natural hangout, particularly at lunch. The Quad is also a favorite hangout for Oxy's inquisitive squirrel population.
The Quad is at the heart of architect Myron Hunt's original 1911 campus master plan, located at the intersection of the north-south and east-west axes he laid out. The Quad was landscaped in 1937-1940 by Beatrix Farrand, whose other work includes the East Garden at the White House, Dumbarton Oaks in Washington D.C., and portions of the Caltech campus.