Columns

One of the most striking features of the Hurd Center is the four massive columns that start on the interior floor of Carlton Hall and extend 96 feet high, stretching through the building’s roof and into the sky. The columns are more than a striking architectural feature, though; they represent a deep symbolic connection to Baylor’s history while providing a unique technology-rich and interactive experience for the entire Baylor Family. At night, the columns will stand as illuminated beacons for hundreds of thousands traveling along Interstate 35 and around campus.

The connection of the four columns to the University can be found all around Baylor, such as the four columns of Pat Neff Hall or at various campus entrances. But the origin of the Hurd Center columns harkens back to the start of the institution, a modern reference to the four remaining stone columns at the original campus in Independence, Texas, where Baylor was founded in 1845.

Four columns stand on what is now a historic site in Independence. Constructed to support the entrance of a three-story facility for female students attending the University, the columns now serve as a cornerstone of the incoming Baylor student experience – a place where students learn about Baylor’s history and officially become a part of the University’s future as they join the Baylor Line.