"If a group were to say, 'We're going to create a building that will match,' they would be hard-pressed to do that," Power says.

Structural changes have made the various faculties willing to look at how Harvard can work together architecturally, Levitan says.

"The emphasis on contextualism has not changed," Power says. "We're trying to find a way to have buildings that work in their environment but are still alive."

Experimenting with Art

Harvard is also breaking new ground with a new art museum near Peabody Terrace to hold the Sackler Collection. The project is still in its preliminary stages but the University has chosen world-renowned museum architect Renzo Piano for the job.

"To get Renzo is in itself an accomplishment," Marshall says. "He is probably amongst the top five architects at the moment in terms of exposure and influence."