Student Projects

So far, WPI's archival records highlighted throughout this exhibit have focused on how the WPI community's interaction with the Higgins House as a space has evolved since its 1970 bequeathal. But as a multifaceted and dynamic hallmark of campus, the Higgins House has also become a popular subject of student projects and other community inspiration--be they civil, architectural, and electrical analyses, historical and sociocultural commentaries, or other studies. Below, we're highlighting three standout instances (among many) which speak to the inspiration this "estate of grandeur" has had on visitors.

Some years prior to his 1972 graduation from Northeastern University, Francis Zarette, then an undergraduate student of Civil Engineering, had learned of the nearby esteemed Higgins estate. Subsequent visits further piqued his interest. When it came time for his senior capstone, Zarette elected to study the Higgins House in more detail. The product was a thick-bound, interdisciplinary analysis of the structure's history and aesthetics. Later, Zarette returned to WPI as a graduate student, receiving his Master's degree in Civil Engineering from the Institute in 1978.

Advised by WPI Electrical Engineering Prof. Wilhelm Eggimann, WPI students Andrew Stewart '84 and Stephen Roy '83 submitted a report to faculty about the estate's original Aeolian organ on May 12th, 1983. Their report traces the organ's provenance from pipe installation behind the uppermost balcony at the rear of the Great Hall (the organ loft) to its new home with the Trappist Monks at Saint Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Mass., since Mary's philanthropic 1951 donation a few years after Aldus had passed. Stewart and Roy's report also provides insight into what's transpired (namely, what damage has been done) since the organ's move to a new, smaller, and overall less befitting location, despite the monks' best efforts to care for the instrument. The report resurfaced in 1985 with renewed attention to its included propositions for how to preserve the now "silent treasure". Read through select pages from the report below to learn more!

Images accompanying the report

In partial fulfillment of degree requirements for the Humanities Sufficiency Program, Jason Withington '92 compiled an in-depth historical analysis of the Higgins House--from early planning stages and construction of the estate, to the sociocultural motivations which drove the pursuit and facilitated completion of this ambitious project, to the estate's architectural departures from its English manor inspiration, Compton Wynyates. Read Withington's conclusion below for a glimpse into his analysis.

As records have shown, the Higgins House has made a lasting impact since its 1970 bequeathal to WPI--not only as a space, but also as a source of inspiration further supporting the Institute's project-based approach to education. To browse more instances of the estate in recent years, check out our Special Events feature!