Pratt Institute Self-Guided Campus Tour

Pratt Institute

Self-Guided

Campus Tour

200 Willoughby Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11205

718.636.3600

pratt.edu

@prattinstitute

B38

Bus Stop

Subway Station

Parking

Fence

Campus Entrance

Accessible Entrance

WILLO

UGHBY AVENUE

KALB AVE

E AVENUE

YETT

HALL STREET

ST. JAMES PLACE

CLASSON AVENUE

EMERSON PLACE

B54

B38

Clinton–Washington

Avenues Station

Classon Avenue Station

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ISC Building Esther Lloyd Jones Hall (ELJ) Juliana Curran Terian Design

Center Pavilion

Film/Video Building

North Hall Leo J. Pantas Hall

Steuben Hall

Emerson Place Residence

Memorial Hall East Hall

Pratt Studios

Grand Avenue Residence

South Hall

Pratt Chapel Pratt Townhouses

DeKalb Hall

Chemistry Building Cannoneer Court

Sculpture Park

Engineering Building Myrtle Hall

Thrift Hall

Machinery Building Willoughby Hall

Library

Student Union Stabile Hall

Main Building Center for Career and

Professional Development Activities Resource Center (ARC)

Higgins Hall

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Information Science Center (ISC) Building 1954–55

Originally built as a dormitory, the ISC Building now houses the

Learning/Access Center and The Black Alumni of Pratt. It is also

home to the Franklin Furnace Archive, which is dedicated to

avant-garde and performance art and therapy oﬃces.

After the acquisition of Willoughby Hall in the 1960s, both

the ISC and Willoughby were used for oﬃces and classrooms.

They were built during the extensive Pratt Area Urban Renewal

under the direction of Robert Moses.

Memorial Hall 1926–27

A large auditorium/theater built by the Pratt family in memory

of Mary Richardson Pratt, the wife of founder Charles Pratt, Me-

morial Hall hosts numerous events and productions throughout

the year, including Pratt Presents, the Institute’s signature se-

ries of free public programs, visiting artist talks, panel discus-

sions, performances, theater productions, and more.

Recent speakers have included visual artist Kara Walker and

ﬁlmmaker Spike Lee. In years past, we have hosted talks by

renowned architect Frank Gehry, legendary editor-in-chief of

Vogue magazine Anna Wintour, accomplished graphic design

alumnus Stefan Sagmeister, award-winning director/screenwrit-

er and journalist Ava DuVernay alongside The New York Times

bestselling author/ﬁlmmaker/producer and frontman for The

Roots, Questlove. The list goes on.

Main Building 1885–87

Pratt Institute opened in 1887 with a drawing class of 12 stu-

dents. As the ﬁrst campus building, the Main Building original-

ly housed all of the Institute’s programs and courses. This red

brick building was designed in the Romanesque Revival style

popular in the 1880s and is six stories high with picturesque

corner towers and a central clock tower. The porch was added in

1895. The heart of the Pratt campus, the Main Building is home

to the President’s Oﬃce, classrooms and studios, and senior

painting studios located on the 6th ﬂoor. It is also an NYC Desig-

nated Historical Landmark.

North Hall 1958

Pratt’s dining services (the cafeteria and the Pi Shop) are located

within North Hall, providing the student community with

healthy and fresh options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

There are several diﬀerent meal plans to choose from, and stu-

dents living both on campus and oﬀ campus can sign up. The

cafeteria is a traditional dining hall with options for hot meals,

grab-and-go sandwiches, a salad bar, grilled entrées, and sushi.

The Pi Shop serves pizza, calzones, pasta, and rice bowls. Pratt’s

dining services strive to accommodate dietary restrictions and

will always oﬀer a variety of meal options.

Also in North Hall is the Writing and Tutorial Center, which

oﬀers free tutoring in writing, speaking, art history, math/sci-

ence, and graduate thesis to all current Pratt students, regard-

less of program or status. Classrooms in North Hall are typically

used for some of Pratt’s Liberal Arts courses.

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South Hall 1889–91

originally Pratt High School, a three-year coed program. After

the program was discontinued, South Hall was repurposed for

the Household Science program, and then later the Costume

Design Building. South Hall is now home to our Foundation and

Fine Arts Departments.

DeKalb Hall 1954–55

DeKalb Hall houses classrooms, oﬃces, and most notably the

DeKalb Gallery, which hosts student thesis shows and other

various exhibitions throughout the year.

Thrift Hall 1916–17

Thrift Hall houses the Pratt mail center, where students can pick

up and ship all of their important packages. Incoming students

can pre-ship supplies for their residence hall rooms so that every-

thing is there when they arrive on campus for orientation.

Sculpture Park

Pratt’s Sculpture Park is one of the largest in New York City. Well-

known and emerging artists loan their work to the exhibition,

and the park includes a number of commissioned works as well.

Library 1896

This Victorian Renaissance revival structure was built both as

a public and college library. However, as the Institute grew and

the Brooklyn Public Library system expanded, it ceased being

used as a public library in 1941. Designed by the Tiﬀany Glass

Co., the interior has a marble and brass central staircase, glass

ﬂoors, and numerous mosaics.

In addition to our collection of over 235,000 books, Pratt’s

library resources include thousands of online books, journals,

and articles, and special collections including artist’s books,

zines, and more. The Library also houses the Pratt Institute

archives of historical documents, images, and videos. Students

have access to ﬁlms, videos, projectors, cameras, and lighting

equipment for check out. There are also a number of study spac-

es available, rotating exhibitions of artwork, and the Alumni

Reading Room, which hosts fun and educational programming,

including ﬁlm series and guest speakers.

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Leo J. Pantas Hall 1986–87

A contemporary residence hall for students, this brick building

houses approximately 212 students in suite-style room layouts.

All rooms are air-conditioned and students are provided with a

bed (twin extra long), a drafting table or desk, chair, dresser, and

a microwave/refrigerator/freezer unit.

Other features of Pantas include a ﬁrst-ﬂoor common area

with a TV and a large communal work area available to stu-

dents. Pantas also has Learning Communities (such as Commu-

nity Service, Art History, and Humanities) and Specialty Hous-

ing options (like Quiet Floors and Healthy Choices) available.

East Hall 1887

East Hall is one of the buildings in the complex making up

Pratt’s original campus and although it is connected to the

Main Building, the two buildings had diﬀerent architects. The

building wraps around an attractive courtyard and the ﬁrst

ﬂoor houses Pratt’s engine room, a National Historic Mechani-

cal Engineering Landmark. The engine room was built in 1887

and is the oldest maintained site for steam engines producing

electricity in NYC and the Northeast. On New Year’s, antique

steam whistles from ocean liners, trains, and riverboats blast

sound across the campus. Many students choose to visit the

engine room for their ﬁrst-year 2D drawing class. This space is a

wonderful area for observational and perspective drawing; it is

an ideal space because it challenges your drawing skills.

East Hall also houses classrooms, studios, the Pratt Chapel,

and our Center for Career and Professional Development.

Center for Career and Professional Development

(inside East Hall)

The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD)

provides lifelong access to career management education, inspi-

ration, and support for students and alumni to develop their full

potential as creative practitioners with clarity, competence, and

conﬁdence. The CCPD oﬀers over 120 professional development

programs and 10 specialized recruitment events throughout

the year. The CCPD staﬀ are here to help you prepare and polish

your résumé and portfolio, and work with you on strategies for

attaining internships, approaching and presenting yourself to

industry professionals, and searching for and applying for jobs

and career opportunities.

Pratt Chapel (inside East Hall)

The chapel provides all Pratt students with a safe setting for

meditation or to celebrate interdenominational rites as a

campus community. Any group wishing to use the chapel may

contact a campus minister, whose only requirement is respect

for the space and its purpose.

Esther Lloyd Jones Hall (ELJ) 1921

ELJ was a private apartment building that was purchased by

Pratt Institute in 1964 and became a residence hall for juniors

and seniors. As a historic building, many of the dorm rooms

still boast original architectural details. All students in ELJ are

provided with a bed (twin extra long), a drafting table or desk,

chair, dresser, and a microwave/refrigerator/freezer unit.

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Chemistry Building 1904–05

Machinery Building 1914

Engineering Building 1928–29

This complex of three buildings contains a variety of facilities

and studios for printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, jewelry, weld-

ing, metalworking, and woodshop. There are also computer labs

and The Rubelle and Norman Schaﬂer Gallery. These studios

are open to all Pratt students and most can be used with a short

introductory shop lesson/certiﬁcation class. All students are

encouraged to take elective studios outside of their majors and

can usually do so in their junior and senior years. Studio techs

are available for assistance using specialized equipment.

Juliana Curran Terian Design Center Pavilion 2007

This 6,000-square-foot building embodies Pratt’s focus on in-

tegrative learning and research. It connects two older buildings

with a contemporary bridging structure to consolidate Pratt’s

four design programs (interior, fashion, industrial, and com-

munications design) into a uniﬁed setting where faculty and

students teach, work, and learn from one another. The pavilion

includes a shared entrance lobby facing the campus mall, gal-

lery, lecture space, and courtyard area. The second-ﬂoor gallery

space hosts cross-curricular lectures and shows, and there is a

café on the ﬁrst ﬂoor.

Steuben Hall

Steuben was the United Metals factory, which manufactured

small metal items, prior to being acquired by Pratt in the early

1970s. It now houses numerous studio spaces, classrooms, and

galleries, and is home to our Fashion Design and Communica-

tions Design Departments. Students have access to the digital

printing lab and resource center, as well as fashion produc-

tionstudios.

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Student Union 1887

Renovated in 2018, the Student Union is where Student Gov-

ernment, the Program Board, and the Community Engagement

Board have oﬃces, along with student clubs and organizations.

As the campus “living room,” students can hang out here, study,

eat lunch, or just relax. Throughout the academic year, the

Student Union holds events such as movie screenings, lectures,

and music and comedy shows, and during exam weeks, Late

Night Breakfasts.

Originally, the Student Union was the Trade School Building

and was used for courses on bricklaying, plumbing, and sign

painting before transitioning to become Pratt’s old gymnasium.

There was a small swimming pool (actually called a “swimming

tank,” and was the ﬁrst in Brooklyn to admit women) located

under the staging area on the east side of the building, and

some of the original signage from the pool can still be seen in

the Student Union today.

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Activities Resource Center (ARC) 1974

The Activities Resource Center, or simply known as “the ARC,” is

home to the Cannoneers and the recreation, wellness, and intra-

mural sports programs at Pratt Institute. The ARC oﬀers six mul-

tipurpose athletic courts that can be used interchangeably for

basketball, tennis, and volleyball. A four-lane 200-meter track

lines the perimeter of the gym ﬂoor. The ARC’s activity areas and

resources also include a studio room, a ﬁtness center (weights

and cardio machines), and a boxing and functional space.

Pratt Townhouses 1901–10

Pratt Townhouses are remodeled historic row houses located

near the center of campus. Six students reside in each house in

single rooms on three ﬂoors. Each house is coed and oﬀers a full

kitchen, living room, parlor, backyard area, and basement. Each

room is provided with the standard campus furniture (bed, ar-

moire, dressers, desk, chair, and bookshelf). Amenities include

washer and dryer, WiFi, and Philo streaming TV. Preference for

this housing option is given to junior- and senior-level students.

Stabile Hall 1999

Stabile Hall was designed to house new undergraduate students

with space for 224 ﬁrst-year students in four-person suites.

Each suite consists of two air-conditioned double rooms with

a shared bath and each room is furnished with the standard

campus furniture (extra-long twin bed, dresser, desk, chair, and

bookshelf). There are kitchenettes located on each ﬂoor and

laundry in the basement. Each ﬂoor has a large common lounge

with smaller work and lounge spaces, all of which contribute to

a vital living and working environment. Suites are single sex,

but ﬂoors are coed. Stabile Hall hosts the Healthy Choices and

Global Learning Communities.

Pratt Studios

This former industrial building acquired by Pratt in 1962 was

converted for use as art and design studios and classrooms.

Pratt Studios is home to our Industrial Design and Interior De-

sign Departments. Facilities include laser cutters, 3D printers,

and a woodshop and casting studio.

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Willoughby Hall 1974

Willoughby Residence Hall is a former 17-story apartment co-

op, and is the largest residence hall. Former apartments have

been converted to suites with the living room space transformed

to doubles and triples and the bedroom spaces transformed to

single rooms. It accommodates 850 undergraduate men and

women. With the exception of the Gender Inclusive Communi-

ty, suites are single sex, but ﬂoors are coed. Rooms vary in size

from 9' × 12' to 15' × 20' with the larger spaces being triple occu-

pancy rooms. In addition to the standard furniture, all suites

have a kitchen table, stove, and refrigerator. Many continuing/

upperclass students call Willoughby home as well as most new

transfer students.

Willoughby Hall hosts the Healthy Choices Community,

Global Learning Community, Quiet Floors, Gender Neutral

Floor, and Community Service Floor. The building is also home

to our Health Services Oﬃce, Pratt convenience store, and Resi-

dential Life and Housing Oﬃces.

Myrtle Hall 2011

Myrtle Hall is Pratt’s 120,000-square-foot, green, academic, and

administrative building on the Myrtle Avenue commercial strip.

It is home to many oﬃces and invaluable resources for both

prospective and current Pratt students and their families:

The Oﬃce of Admissions: Located on the 2nd ﬂoor, pro-

spective students are invited to connect with one of our

admissions counselors to access support and guidance prior

to starting and throughout the application process. Students

can schedule a portfolio review or sign up for a guided tour of

our campus with one of our student tour guides.

The Oﬃce of International Aﬀairs (OIA): Also housed on

the 2nd ﬂoor, OIA provides support, resources, and pro-

gramming for our international students. OIA is the oﬃce

responsible for issuing I-20s for student visas and provides

guidance/support for on-campus employment as well as CPT

and OPT.

Academic Advisement Oﬃce: Pratt’s Academic Advise-

ment Oﬃce is on the 6th ﬂoor of Myrtle Hall. All students

have an assigned academic adviser who is there to help them

general support.

Student Financial Services and Bursar’s Oﬃce: These

oﬃces can also be found on the 6th ﬂoor and provide support

for students with regard to ﬁnancial aid, bill payments, and

other ﬁnancial services.

The Oﬃce for Institutional Advancement and Pratt’s Human

Resources Oﬃce are also located in Myrtle Hall.

In addition to these student support services, Myrtle Hall is

home to our Digital Arts and Game Arts Departments. Facilities

for these majors are equipped with state-of-the-art computer

labs, tablets, inkjet printers, and more.

Myrtle Hall recently met the United States Green Building

Council standards for  (Leadership in Energy and Environ-

mental Design) Gold certiﬁcation based on its eco-friendly fea-

tures that include exterior sun shades; a green roof that absorbs

rainwater, reﬂects heat, and sequesters greenhouse gasses; and

solar photo-voltaic panels that generate on-site electricity.

Cannoneer Court 1986

Cannoneer Court is the home of Pratt’s Writing BFA, which

uniquely oﬀers maker’s spaces, performance spaces, their own

computer labs, and a small library. Students also have access to

the courtyard garden.

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Emerson Place Residence 2019

The newest residence option on campus, Emerson Place is a

10-story community for ﬁrst-year students and is conveniently

located adjacent to the Film/Video Building, expanding the

Pratt campus east. Each ﬂoor oﬀers 12 double rooms and 10+

private bathrooms arranged around a central ﬂoor lounge with

kitchenettes, and dramatic views of the campus and lower

Manhattan. On the ﬁrst ﬂoor of Emerson, there is a large main

lounge, student maker space, and a meeting space, with laundry

and bike storage located in the basement. All residence hall

students are provided with a bed (twin extra long), a drafting

table or desk, chair, dresser, and a microwave/refrigerator/

freezer unit.

Grand Avenue Residence

Grand Avenue Residence is located one block from campus

at 100 Grand Avenue and accommodates 60 students, both

graduates and undergraduates, in a variety of apartment-style

options. Students may choose to live with a roommate in a

one-room apartment, share an apartment with another student

in their own private bedrooms, or opt for a larger apartment

shared by three students in a single bedroom. Each apartment

has a kitchen equipped with a refrigerator and stove, and, as

with all residence halls, students’ rooms are furnished with

beds, desks and chairs, dressers, bookshelves, and a dining

table and chairs.

Higgins Hall 1868

Before becoming Pratt’s School of Architecture, Higgins Hall

was originally built as Adelphi Academy, a private school that

later evolved into Adelphi University and relocated to Garden

City, NY. The original building gained east and west wings

in 1868 and 1871, respectively, and a second building in 1889.

Higgins was acquired by Pratt in 1963 with an endowment by

Mrs. John Higgins, for whom the complex was renamed. In

1996, a four-alarm ﬁre caused signiﬁcant damage to the cen-

tral and north wings of the building. The resulting repairs and

updates to infrastructure were designed to work with the School

of Architecture and the Graduate Center for Planning and the

Environment along with our robotics lab.

Film/Video Building

Located at 550 Myrtle Avenue on the Brooklyn campus, this

15,000-square-foot facility serves as the home for Pratt’s Film/

Video Department. Facilities include state-of-the-art sound-

stages, greenscreens, editing suites, camera equipment, and a

beautiful screening room.