ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of college campuses and architecture in the United States

Okay kiddo, so let's think about college campuses as big play areas for grown-ups where they can learn new things and make new friends. Over the years, the design of these play areas has changed a lot, almost like how we change our playgrounds when we outgrow them!

Back in the olden days, colleges were usually small and looked like big houses where all the students would live together. They were pretty simple and didn't have a lot of fancy buildings or technology. But as more people started going to college, the campuses started to grow and they needed more space to fit all the people.

That's when architects started to get involved. They would design big buildings that could fit a lot of classrooms, libraries, and dorm rooms all in one place. They also added things like courtyards, walking paths and fountains, that make campuses look really pretty and peaceful.

As time went on, people started to care more about looks and style, and so colleges started building more unique and interesting buildings to set themselves apart from others. This is why if you go visit different college campuses, you'll notice that each one looks a little different- some are modern with lots of glass, while others are more traditional with columns and brick walls.

So, that's basically how college campuses and their architecture have evolved over time. They started small and simple, but as more people went to college, they grew bigger and fancier, and architects got really creative with the design!