Ramée expert, alumnus Paul Turner, to speak Wednesday

Paul Turner '62

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Paul V. Turner ’62, professor of architectural history at Stanford University, will discuss  “Joseph Ramée and His Design of the Union College Campus,” Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. in Old Chapel.

Turner, a native of Schenectady, is the author of the book, “Joseph Ramée, International Architect of the Revolutionary Era." He holds  a master’s degree in architecture and a doctorate in art history from Harvard University. 

His lecture is free and open to the public. In conjunction with his visit, Schaffer Library is mounting an exhibit of Ramée's plans and drawings for Union, which are preserved in the College archives. They will be available for viewing before and after the talk.

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Ramée, a French architect and landscape designer, trained in Paris in the 1780s and came to the United States in 1812. He produced his design for the Union campus in 1813. He was considered one of the two or three most experienced and talented architects in this country at the time.

According to Turner, “Ramée's design for Union created new standards of collegiate and university planning, which have helped shape American campuses ever since.”