History
Officially opened in September 1959, Quincy House symbolizes the new Harvard. As a part of the Edward Harkness bequest, it was the first House to be built after construction of the original seven river Houses. Three buildings currently house Quincy House students: Old Quincy, New Quincy, and 20 DeWolfe Street.
The older of the sections of Quincy House, Old Quincy or Increase Mather Hall, originally named for early Harvard president Increase Mather, was part of Harvard's Leverett House until 1960. Constructed in 1929-30 during Abbott Lawrence Lowell's university presidency, it is a neo-Georgian building with finely detailed suites, high ceilings, carved moldings and fireplaces. Until the construction of New Quincy necessitated their removal, the now open east side was enclosed by a one-story range of squash courts. Beginning in the summer of 2012 Old Quincy is being renovated as the pilot project in a college-wide House renewal program.
Designed by the Boston firm of Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson, and Abbott, New Quincy is a modern eight-story high-rise with views of its more traditional neighbors. It consists of a two-story commons wing along Mt. Auburn Street, a nine-story main residence unit with split level suites having splendid views, and the raised, glass-walled House Library, nicknamed "the Qube", the placement of which adds a second interior court to the series of courtyards and gardens that are a distinctive part of the House.
The 20 DeWolfe Street residence hall is a brick structure with a double mansard roof of lead-coated copper. The 10 and 20 DeWolfe Street residences are shared with Leverett House and Kirkland House.
In the fall of 2012, construction on Old Quincy begin as part of a University-wide housing project.
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