A Fair Chance in the Race of Life: The Role of Gallaudet University in Deaf History

11. The Power of Place: The Evolution of Kendall Green

11 The Power of Place: The Evolution of Kendall Green Benjamin Bahan and Hansel Bauman Editors’ Introduction Benjamin Bahan and Hansel Bauman apply the concepts of “Deaf architecture ” and “Deaf space” as they trace the architectural history of Gallaudet University’s Kendall Green campus. They argue that Edward Miner Gallaudet envisioned the college to be like other institutions of higher learning, retaining famous architects and builders and emulating the designs of other schools. By projecting the physical features of the institution as those of a college, Gallaudet sought to normalize deafness and place deaf students on intellectual parity with hearing students. Bahan and Bauman contend that Gallaudet and subsequent presidents, however , overlooked the “collectivist ways of the Deaf community” in their desire to have a campus that would be physically indistinguishable from others. Finally, they discuss the Sorenson Language and Communication Center as an example of “Deaf architecture” that reaffirms the community ’s collectivist identity and offers a model for the future. The concepts and observations put forth in this paper are formulated from student research developed over two semesters in the Deaf Space course offered through the Gallaudet University Department of ASL and Deaf Studies. The Deaf Space class is an important part of the university’s new, inclusive, campus-planning initiative known as the Deaf Space Project, in which Gallaudet students, faculty, and administrators are working with design professionals to create Deaf design principles that will guide the future development of the campus. 154 The Power of Place 155 DEAF PEOPLE INHABIT a highly visual world; they have a visual and spatial language, a visually centered way of orienting themselves within the world, and a strong cultural bond built around their shared experiences . It should follow, then, that the places they build be completely responsive to and expressive of the unique physical, cognitive, and cultural aspects of Deaf experiences. From its inception, Gallaudet University has been both an academic institution and an important cultural center for the Deaf community. Its leaders and designers have endeavored to build a prestigious campus setting with landscape and architectural styles on a par with other institutions, while secondarily attempting to meet the specific needs of Deaf people. The manner in which the campus and its surroundings have evolved reveals the ways that Gallaudet’s campus—exemplary of traditional North American campus planning over the past one hundred fifty years—has influenced Deaf identity and the quality of life on campus. Identity and Place: The Origins of Deaf Architecture As humans, our identity is deeply connected to the places we inhabit. We feel at home—at ease, affirmed, empowered—when we live in places with which we identify and are most familiar. In these places, spatial orientation is easy and memorable and reminds us of who we are—our history, values, social norms, and aesthetic sensibilities. Place not only holds meaning for its inhabitants but also communicates their identity to others in a rich and complex medium that builds a sense of presence in the world, be it at the level of the individual or an entire culture. The link between place and identity is deeply embedded in Deaf culture . The often-told story of Abbe de l’Epée, for example, is rich with architectural metaphors.1 However, the best example of the close relationship between Deaf people and their space is the traditional act of rearranging furniture in public places to accommodate group gatherings. These examples point to ephemeral but powerful architectural manifestations of Deaf experiences built around visual and tactile sensibilities, a visual and spatial language, and the deep interpersonal connection that binds the community within a collectivist culture. Deaf architecture appeals to the senses; it is an architecture of openness and transparency that enables the visuocentric reading of space and activities. Natural and artificial light is modulated to illuminate sign language , heighten spatial awareness, and enrich aesthetic experience. Similarly , building vibration is modulated to heighten spatial awareness and 156 Benjamin Bahan and Hansel Bauman enrich sensory experience. Deaf architecture is at once practical, straightforward , and expressive. Language and culture influence how we perceive and imagine space. The flowing, kinesthetic nature of sign language provides the inspiration for an architecture of soft, free-flowing spaces without physical or visual barriers, one where building forms, surface texture, light, and color are utilized in such a way as to create spaces that are memorable, clearly understood, and easy to move...