Top 11 places to take photos on campus.
1. Clough Rooftop Garden
The Clough Rooftop Garden sits on top of the five-story, 222,000-square-foot Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons. It features a landscaped terrace with trees, plants, benches and tables, and of course, the Atlanta skyline views. It is functional, scenic and purposeful in its design. Students, faculty and staff are often found on their laptops studying or working, or socializing with friends.
2. Tech Tower
Tech Tower is the iconic building that represents Georgia Tech to the rest of the world. One of the original four buildings built in 1888, Tech Tower is the only building to still stand. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt spoke about the importance of engineering education from the steps of Tech Tower. While the original letters were painted in white and gold, they were changed to light bulbs in the 1930s, and neon letters in 1949.
3. Einstein Statue
The statue of Albert Einstein is one of three created by American sculptor Robert Berks. The other two statues are located in Washington D.C. at the National Academy of Sciences, and in Jerusalem at the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities. The 3,000 pound sculpture is just asking for a group photo with its three tiered steps surrounding the famed Nobel-prize winning physicist. Einstein embodies the same ideals of science, technology and human betterment that Georgia Tech espouses.
4. Student Center Balcony
The original Student Center was finished in 1970, and the Commons added in the 1980s. The view from the balcony of the Student Center of Midtown Atlanta has changed drastically since the 1970s, and after 2022, the Georgia Tech Community will have even better views of the Atlanta skyline when the Student Center expansion and renovation is completed.
5. Rosa Parks Statue
The Rosa Parks series was installed on April 5, 2018, the day after the 50th anniversary of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. The sculpture depicts Rosa Parks at 42 years old when she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, and at 92 years old when she passed. The seat in the middle invites the public to sit in between the two.
6. Campanile
The Kessler Campanile, an 80-feet tall stainless steel twisted obelisk, is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Tech Tower. It was installed for the 1996 Olympics since Georgia Tech served as the Olympic Village, housing over 10,000 athletes and personnel. The Campanile was originally designed to play music – the Ramblin Wreck fight song, or the Olympic theme, but has been quiet since 2009.
7. Steam Engine
The Steam Engine is part of the original part of the Georgia Tech campus, known as “The Hill”. The engine serves as a reminder of the engineering and industrial roots of the Institute. It was originally located in the basement of the old Mechanical Engineering building just across the street.
8. Binary Bridge
Commonly referred to as “The Binary Bridge” on campus, the skywalk connects the Klaus Advanced Computing Building to the Information Technology Complex. The binary code translates to K-L-A-U-S. It’s tough to choose between taking photos of the bridge or the view from the bridge.
9. Coda Building
Coda, the 21-story tower that opened in Spring 2019 includes office space for Georgia Tech and private corporations. Situated in Tech Square at the eastern edge of the campus, the 1 million square feet building incorporates office space, data storage, outdoor spaces, and the world’s tallest spiral staircase. It was designed by John Portman & Associates; Portman was a Georgia Tech alumni.
10. CRC Track
Georgia Tech’s Campus Recreation Center was completed in stages from 1995 to 2003. Originally built as the outdoor swimming and diving venue for the 1996 Olympics, it was enclosed in 2003, and now includes a fitness center, climbing wall, basketball courts, track, and studios. From the track, a magnificent view of the Downtown Atlanta skyline awaits.
11. Georgia Tech Library – Crosland Tower 7th Floor
The Georgia Tech Library has been undergoing renovations since 2016, and re-opened the Crosland Tower portion in January 2019. Adjacent Gilbert Tower is now under renovation, and will open in 2020. The renovations (and lack of books) include massive walls of windows which allow views of the Midtown skyline, best seen from the seventh floor study room.
Note: we really wanted to include the Crosland Tower Library rooftop, but it’s closed until further notice. But when it opens again… be sure to check out the views from the patio!
Sravanthi Meka 