From an idea formed by an NC State graduate, the Brickyard has become one of the most iconic and memorable places for events and unification on campus since its dedication 50 years ago.
Landscape architect Richard C. Bell, who graduated from NC State’s College of Design in 1950, had a $160,000 budget, just under 600,000 donated bricks and three bricklayers to complete his plan, which originally called for granite cobblestone and an extension to the Belltower.
“The designer Richard Bell patterned the Brickyard after a piazza in Venice,” said Lisa Johnson, the university architect. “It’s not exactly the pattern, but he studied there and got ideas from Venice.”
After two years of laying bricks, the university officially dedicated University Plaza, later dubbed as the Brickyard, on Founder’s Day of 1968. It has since served the campus as an open space to hold concerts, student protests, speakers and others campus events.
“We have so many open spaces on campus, but the Brickyard is the most versatile space we have that can host a wide variety of events,” Johnson said. “Celebrations, rallies, Shack-A-Thon is there. From all of the photos from these events, you know that they happened at the Brickyard.”
Besides its ability to hold large events, the Brickyard serves as a representation of NC State’s campus and uniqueness.
“There aren’t a lot of places that are completely and expansively made out of brick,” said Sam Collis, a second-year studying psychology. “The first time I saw the Brickyard, I was very shocked because it was really big. It is also very unique architecturally.”
Johnson also believes that the layout and design of the Brickyard makes it an iconic landmark at NC State both physically and historically.
“The Brickyard is uniquely NC State,” Johnson said. “You can recognize the brick pattern anywhere. It is a hallowed place on campus meaning it has held special meaning over time … I think a lot of it is the pattern of the bricks. You don’t see an area like that on many other campuses.”
After a half century of the brick walkway, University Plaza has become a practical and enjoyable aspect for students. From the easy to find location, to D.H. Hill Library and Atrium, it has become a part of everyday life at State.
“It’s the perfect location with the food in the Atrium and the library,” said Rebekah Rhodes, a first-year studying physics. “There is a lot of people going to and from there, so it’s a great place for the NC State community to come together.”
Throughout its history, the Brickyard has seen some changes to its surroundings such as a new tower for D.H. Hill Library and the destruction of Harrelson Hall; change is still coming in its foreseeable future.
“I think there will be another building someday in the location Harrelson Hall was,” Johnson said. “It won’t be a round building. It is a placeholder so it may take 10-15 years before that building happens, but it won’t change the Brickyard.”
The bricks themselves may be seeing an upgrade in the upcoming years as tests began to take place on new “bricks” made out of permeable paper.
“What I think will happen to the Brickyard in the next several years is repair,” Johnson said. “We are going to be doing a test on using permeable papers so it is more sustainable. If they do well, eventually we will want to replace all the bricks with the permeable paper that doesn’t absorb water and is designed to let water going between the bricks.”
Brickyard events still hold special meaning and memories for students today as it did 50 years ago. Recent events held there, such as the solar eclipse day and Agriculture Awareness Week, excite students and provides something out of the ordinary for them to look forward to.
“I definitely participate in events on the Brickyard because the events can be really fun and interesting,” Rhodes said. “There have been some that I still want to try that I haven’t done before such as Shack-A-Thon.”
Collis also shared some events on the Brickyard that he enjoys and participates in.
“I have been to the Ag Week,” Collis said. “Some people sell stuff there, and I always go and look. I listen to the speakers that are there because they are always entertaining. There is also Shack-A-Thon and tons of other stuff to do and check out.”
Molasses, a Holstein cow, chews her cud in the Brickyard Wednesday. Molasses was one of two cows brought in the Brickyard for a milking contest that took place between two NC State police officers. The milking contest was just one event of several taking place during Agricultural Awareness Week in the Brickyard.
