Quadrangle
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In architecture, a quadrangle, or more colloquially, quad, is a space on a college or university campus usually but not always enclosed on four sides by buildings, although this enclosing may be more or less loosely defined. Quadrangles are descended from the cloister gardens of medieval monasteries, which were usually square or rectangular gardens or lawns enclosed by open arcades. The conversion of many monastic buildings at Oxford and Cambridge to secular colleges set the pattern for green space kept private from persons not members of the college (although Cambridge has 'Courts' and not 'Quads'). Some gardens are further reserved to the fellows or senior members. One of the oldest is Mob Quad in Merton College, Oxford.
In America, Thomas Jefferson's design for the University of Virginia centered the housing and academic buildings around the Lawn, a huge grassy expanse. Later American college and university planners imitated either the Jeffersonian plan, the Oxbridge idea, or a combination of the two.
Despite the obvious relationship of the word "quadrangle" to the number 4, architects do not feel bound by a strict numbering of sides.
The word "quadrangle" is also sometimes, but not very often, used to mean a quadrilateral.
Quadrangle in heraldry
In an obvious allusion, the quadrangle forms the compartment of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada [1].
See also
- Radcliffe Quad, University College, Oxford
- Quad, for other meanings of the term