A helpful guide to navigating campus

07/18/16 – BOSTON, MA. – Students walk by Cabot on July 18, 2016. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University

Northeastern’s campus sits on 73 acres of land, the equivalent of more than 55 NFL football fields. But the one-of-a-kind sanctuary of lush green spaces and tree-lined pathways is not as hard to navigate as you might think.

Architectural landmarks dot the campus, helping students, faculty, and staff get their bearings and find their way from one building to the next. Here’s a picturesque look at some of these landmarks, with a particular focus on how they can be used to guide you.

Krentzman’s sign

Flanked by Dodge, Richards, and Ell halls, Krentzman Quad is one of the campus’ primary gateways. The brick ledge at the entrance to the quad—emblazoned with the university’s seal—is a popular spot for new graduates to pose for photos in celebration of their academic achievements. It is located on Huntington Avenue, near the Green Line’s Northeastern stop.

Taylor Lawson DMSB'16, Hope Wierzbicki, CAMD'16, and Taylor Niland, DMSB'16, take photos in Krentzman Quad prior to graduation on May 4, 2016.

Taylor Lawson DMSB’16, Hope Wierzbicki, AMD’16, and Taylor Niland, DMSB’16, take photos in Krentzman Quad prior to graduation in May.

Pedestrian bridge mural

As part of Northeastern’s Public Art Initiative, street artist Daniel Anguilu painted a mural on the tri-level pedestrian bridge and retaining wall facing the Curry Student Center. The mural—inspired by the novel One Hun­dred Years of Soli­tude, by the renowned Colom­bian author Gabriel García Márquez—is bursting with color, including vibrant shades of blue, green, and purple.

Traversing the bridge from the Curry Student Center will lead you to several residence halls and service buildings on Columbus Avenue, including Davenport Commons, the Badger & Rosen SquashBusters Center, and Columbus Place, home of the NUPD and the Alumni Center.

Rebecca Bagley, CCIS'19 , rides a unicycle along Daniel Anguilu's mural on the retaining wall by the MBTA Orange Line tracks.

Rebecca Bagley, CCIS’19 , rides a unicycle along Daniel Anguilu’s mural in May.

Cy Young statue

In 1903, Cy Young led the Boston Americans to victory in the first World Series from a mound located in what is now the Churchill Hall courtyard. A life-size bronze statue of Young marks the spot where he hurled heaters, installed by sculptor Robert Shure in 1993. Behind the statue of baseball’s winningest pitcher is the entrance to Hayden Hall; to its right is Barletta Natatorium, which features a six-lane pool for daily lap swimming; and to its left is Churchill Hall, where you can find tasty soups and sandwiches at Rebecca’s Café.

Cy Young pitched Game 1 of the 1903 World Series, which was held in what is now the heart of Northeastern's campus.

Cy Young pitched Game 1 of the 1903 World Series, which was held in what is now the heart of Northeastern’s campus.

Richardson Plaza clock tower

Constructed in 1985, Richardson Plaza’s four-faced clock tower is flanked by Kariotis Hall, an academic building, and the Russell B. Stearns Center, home of the Cooperative Education and Career Development office. It’s just a short walk from Chicken Lou’s, on Forsyth Street, and Willis Hall, on Leon Street.

Natalia Ivanova, DMSB'15, enjoyed the sun under the Richardson Plaza clock tower.

Natalia Ivanova, DMSB’15, enjoyed the sun under the Richardson Plaza clock tower.

Veterans Memorial

Northeastern’s Veterans Memorial—located at the intersection of Forsyth Street and Centennial Common—commemorates those students and alumni who have given their lives in service of our country. It is part of Centennial Walkway, a popular path for students, faculty, and staff headed to Snell Library, Curry Student Center, Snell Engineering Center, or Dana Research Center.

Students talk next to the Veterans Memorial on a Fall day at Northeastern.

Students talk next to the Veterans Memorial on a Fall day at Northeastern in 2014.

Behrakis mural

Boston-based designer Cedric Douglas painted an ingenious mural on the side of the Behrakis Health Sciences Center on Leon Street, depicting a young boy using street art to transform the space into a prehistoric scene from his imagination. The mural, which is part of Northeastern’s Public Art Initiative, lies just beyond Centennial Common, paving the way to the Visitor Center and the West Village residence complex.

A man rides past Boston-based artist Cedric Douglas' new public art installation on the side of Behrakis Health Sciences Center this summer.

A man rides past Boston-based artist Cedric Douglas’ new public art installation on the side of Behrakis Health Sciences Center in June.