I have been fascinated with the Old Crescent ever since I started working for Indiana University. It is the oldest part of campus and an area I tend to frequent often since it is near my office. In the past several years, the university administration has prioritized the reinvigoration of this corner of the IU Bloomington campus. For decades, the old limestone buildings housed primarily administrative offices. In recent years, however, these buildings have been gradually renovated and converted back into classroom buildings. The result is a more student-centric area of campus. This project is one that I tend to focus on more in winter and early spring when my daily work for the university slows. I try to shoot it using a historical aesthetic with an emphasis on the details and textures I find on my frequent jaunts through this beautiful part of campus.
Indiana University’s Old Crescent
For the past year, I have been working from time to time on an Instagram project capturing details and scenes from Indiana University’s Old Crescent. The Old Crescent is the historical core of IU Bloomington and home to several of the most iconic scenes on campus. Despite this, it has in recent decades become home to mostly administrative offices as many of the students take classes elsewhere on campus.
“Whether we intend it or not, our buildings reflect our values. The Old Crescent should be among the main academic centers on campus and a vibrant hub of student and academic life and activity, day and night.”
– IU President Michael A. McRobbie, 2010 State of the University Address
Since President McRobbie’s address, IU has restored some vigor to the area of campus through a series of renovations allowing classrooms and departments to move back into the historic buildings. As an alumnus and a fan of the university’s incredible limestone structures, it’s fascinating to watch the revitalization of the Old Crescent. I rarely frequented the area as a student so I’ve made an effort over the past year to take Instagram walks through the Old Crescent whenever I have an opportunity.