If you’ve ever spent more than twenty minutes wandering around Harvard Square, you’ve seen it. That massive, glass-fronted beacon of activity that basically serves as the university’s living room. It's the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center. People call it "the Smith Center" or just "Smith." It’s a beast of a building. Honestly, it’s one of those rare architectural projects that actually managed to take a brutalist, somewhat intimidating concrete structure and turn it into something that feels... well, alive.
It wasn't always this way.
Before the massive renovation that wrapped up in 2018, the site was known as Holyoke Center. It was designed by Josep Lluís Sert back in the 60s. It was iconic in its own right, sure, but it felt a bit like a fortress. Dark. Sectioned off. If you weren't there for a specific administrative appointment or the health services wing, you probably weren't hanging out there. Now? It’s the pulse of the campus.
What the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center Actually Is
Basically, the university realized they had a "lonely" campus problem. Students were tucked away in their houses or libraries, and there wasn't a central "third space" where a grad student from the Kennedy School might actually bump into a freshman from the Yard. The Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center was the answer to that.
The renovation was handled by Hopkins Architects. They did something pretty clever. They stripped away the heavy exterior and replaced it with massive glass walls. You can stand on Massachusetts Avenue and look straight through the building to Mt. Auburn Street. It feels transparent. It feels public.
But here is the thing: it’s not just for students.
The first floor is public. Anyone can walk in. You’ve got the food options, the seating, the general vibe of a high-end urban plaza. But as you go higher, you hit the "Moose" areas—the Harvard-only spaces that require an ID. It’s a tiered ecosystem. You have the Moise Y. Safra Welcome Center on one side, and then you have the Vitra furniture everywhere else. It’s fancy. Like, "we spent a lot of money on these chairs" fancy.
The Greenery and the "Living" Walls
One of the first things you’ll notice when you walk into the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center is the green. It’s not just a few potted plants. We are talking about massive internal gardens and vertical "living walls."
These walls are actually a big deal for indoor air quality. If you’re sitting there in the middle of a Cambridge winter, where everything outside is grey and slushy, being surrounded by lush green ferns and tropical plants is a massive mood booster. It's biophilic design in action. It’s not just for show; it’s meant to reduce stress.
And it works.
Usually, the place is packed. You’ll see people hunched over MacBooks, groups debating political theory over coffee, and locals just people-watching. It’s loud. It’s a "productive" kind of loud.
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The Food Situation: More Than Just a Cafeteria
Let’s be real. Most campus centers have terrible food. You expect soggy pizza or a sad salad bar.
The Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center went a different route. They brought in actual local favorites. You’ve got Pavement Coffeehouse—which, if you know Boston, you know they have some of the best bagels in the city. There’s Saloniki Greek for something heartier, and Flour Bakery + Cafe.
Flour is the heavy hitter here. Joanne Chang is a legend in the Boston food scene. Having a Flour inside the Smith Center changed the game. It’s no longer just a place where you grab a quick bite because you’re stuck; it’s a destination. People walk from the other side of the square just for a ginger molasses cookie or a sandwich.
Why the Layout Matters
The way the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center is organized is sort of brilliant. The ground floor is a "pass-through." It’s meant to be porous. You can walk in one door and out the other as part of your daily commute.
- The Commons: This is the big open area. It’s high-energy.
- The Arcade: This is the internal "street" that connects the two main entrances.
- Collaborative Spaces: These are the glass-walled rooms you see on the upper levels.
The upper floors—specifically the 10th floor—are where the magic happens for students. The 10th-floor lookout offers one of the best views of the Boston skyline and the Charles River. It’s spectacular. It’s also much quieter up there. If the ground floor is the "party," the 10th floor is the "library but with better views."
The Architecture: Reimagining Sert’s Brutalism
Some people hate brutalism. They see concrete and they think "prison." But Josep Lluís Sert was a master of the form. The original Holyoke Center was a landmark of mid-century modernism.
The challenge for the Smith Center renovation was to respect that history without being enslaved by it. You can still see the original concrete ribs. You can see the rhythm of the windows. But the new glass "vitrines" (basically giant glass boxes) that were added to the front make it feel modern.
It’s an architectural bridge.
It connects the 1960s to the 2020s. By opening up the floor plan, the architects managed to make the heavy concrete feel like it’s floating. It’s a weird sensation. You have these massive, multi-ton beams, but because everything around them is transparent, the building feels light.
Sustainability is the Silent Star
You won't see it on a plaque necessarily, but the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center is a LEED Platinum project. That’s the highest rating you can get for environmental design.
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They use a sophisticated ventilation system that brings in fresh air based on how many people are in a room. The lighting adjusts automatically based on how much sun is coming through the glass. Even the materials—the wood, the stone—were sourced with sustainability in mind.
It’s a "smart" building.
It’s also surprisingly accessible. Older campus buildings in New England are notorious for being a nightmare for anyone with mobility issues. The Smith Center was built (and rebuilt) with universal design at its core. Wide ramps, easy elevators, plenty of space to maneuver. It’s inclusive in a way that many 300-year-old universities struggle to be.
What Most People Get Wrong About Smith
A lot of people think the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center is just for Harvard students.
That’s a myth.
While the "Collaborative Commons" and some of the study lounges on the upper floors are restricted to HUID holders, the entire ground floor is open to the public. You can go in there right now, grab a coffee at Pavement, sit at a table, and use the guest Wi-Fi.
Another misconception is that it’s just a "lounge."
Actually, it’s a massive hub for university services. The Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) is still there. The campus police have a presence. The "Common Spaces" team runs a literal ton of programming there—everything from art installations to live music performances and film screenings.
It’s a community center in the truest sense.
The Social Dynamics of the Space
If you sit there long enough, you start to see the "social geography" of Harvard.
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Undergrads usually claim the big communal tables near the food. They have their textbooks spread out, but they’re mostly talking. The "power" meetings usually happen in the corners of the cafe areas—professors meeting with researchers, or tech founders from the nearby Innovation Lab grabbing a quick lunch.
Then there are the tourists. They stand in the middle of the Arcade, looking up at the high ceilings and the greenery, trying to figure out where the "Harry Potter" part of Harvard is. (Hint: It’s not here; go to Annenberg Hall for that).
But the Smith Center represents the modern Harvard. It’s the Harvard that wants to be transparent, collaborative, and integrated into the city of Cambridge.
How to Make the Most of Your Visit
If you’re heading to the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, don't just walk through it.
First, check out the art. There are rotating exhibits in the vitrines and along the walls. Harvard has an incredible collection, and they often cycle pieces through the campus center so they can be seen by more than just art history majors.
Second, look at the "living" calendar. There are often pop-up events. I’ve seen everything from student jazz ensembles to technical workshops on 3D printing happening right in the middle of the common area.
Third, if you’re a student, get to the 10th floor early. Those seats by the windows are the most contested real estate in Cambridge during finals week. The view of the sunset over the Charles River is genuinely one of the best in the city.
Actionable Insights for Navigating the Smith Center:
- Timing: If you want a table at Flour or Pavement, avoid the 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM rush. It’s a zoo. Go at 10:30 AM or 2:30 PM.
- Charging: There are power outlets integrated into almost all the permanent seating. Look for the little flip-up tabs on the wooden benches.
- Meeting Point: If you’re meeting someone, don't just say "the Smith Center." It’s too big. Say "the benches by the living wall" or "the entrance to the Welcome Center."
- Public Access: Remember that the Harvard Square entrance (near the MBTA station) is the most crowded. The Mt. Auburn Street entrance is often much quieter and has a nicer approach through the outdoor plaza.
The Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center isn't just a building; it’s a shift in how the university interacts with the world. It’s messy, it’s loud, it’s green, and it’s arguably the most important "new" space in Cambridge.
Whether you’re there to study for a midterm, grab a croissant, or just escape the rain, it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’re at the center of everything. Because, in Harvard Square, you basically are.
To get the most out of your visit, start by entering through the Mt. Auburn Street side to appreciate the architectural scale before grabbing a seat near the central indoor garden to experience the biophilic design firsthand. If you are a visitor, make sure to stop by the Moise Y. Safra Welcome Center for a map of the public art installations currently on display throughout the first-floor arcade.