As if it’s always been there. The Aliki Perroti & Seth Frank Lyceum at Amherst College.
This 21,000-square-foot building at 197 South Pleasant Street combines a historic Greek Revival house with a modern addition. It houses the History Department and the Center for Humanistic Inquiry (CHI), providing classrooms, offices, and shared spaces designed to foster collaboration in the humanities.
Design influence for the Lyceum
Designed by Bruner/Cott Architects and opened in fall 2023, the Lyceum blends traditional New England elements with contemporary materials, including a glass connector and a mass-timber rear wing. It is Amherst College’s first building designed with a goal of zero embodied carbon, aligning with the aim for campus-wide carbon neutrality by 2030.
The name “Lyceum” references both the ancient Greek school of Aristotle and the 19th-century American lyceum movement, which promoted public education and civic discourse. The building’s design and purpose reflect this heritage, offering spaces for lectures, seminars, and informal gatherings.
The CHI, previously located in Frost Library, now occupies a more accessible and tranquil space within the Lyceum. The History Department has also moved from the basement of Chapin Hall to this new facility, benefiting from improved natural light and ventilation.
How big is the Lyceum at Amherst College exactly?
Yes, we know. We said it’s 21,000 square feet above, but is it…
18,500 square feet?
An early report from the Daily Hampshire Gazette in January 2022 described the planned Lyceum as an 18,500-square-foot building.
20,000 square feet?
Several sources, including Spaces4Learning and The Amherst Student, refer to the Lyceum as a 20,000-square-foot project.
21,000 square feet?
An April 2022 article from the New England Real Estate Journal states that Bruner/Cott Architects completed a 21,000-square-foot Lyceum at Amherst College.
Let’s get to the bottom of this, shall we?
We’ll buy lunch at The Works in downtown Amherst to college president, Michael A. Elliott, if he can tell us exactly why this building keeps on growing 😉. Someone tag him.
