At this lecture, Stephen Fox of Rice University's School of Architecture will present a survey of the architectural heritage of the Rice University's campus, placing emphasis on the original conception of the campus architecture by the Boston architect Ralph Adams Cram.

Cram (1863-1942), an influential architect and fellow of the American Institute of Architects, is known for his ecclesiastical and collegiate buildings, and is the architect of the Julia Ideson Building of the Houston Public Library. The campus design of Rice University was inspired by the medieval architecture of Southern Europe, but Houston's hot, humid climate required Cram to adapt the buildings to be more accommodating. His designs are marked by their red clay tile roofs, rose colored brick, cloistered passageways and elaborate stonework.