Editing Girard College (section)

== Campus Design ==

The Girard College campus presents a planned ensemble of Greek Revival buildings organized around Founder's Hall. Four dormitory buildings—each a substantial classical structure in its own right—flank the central building, creating a symmetrical composition that extends the classical theme across the entire site. Walter designed these supporting buildings to complement rather than compete with Founder's Hall, their simpler forms providing backdrop for the temple's grandeur. The campus wall, extending around the entire 43-acre property, defines the institution's boundaries while contributing to its monumental character.<ref name="walter"/>

The wall that surrounds Girard College became the focus of civil rights controversy in the 1960s when activists challenged the institution's whites-only admission policy. Stephen Girard's will had specified that the school serve "poor white male orphans," a restriction that the Supreme Court eventually ruled unconstitutional when applied to an institution with governmental connections. The wall, originally meant to protect students from urban dangers, became symbol of exclusion that civil rights activists made visible through protests. The college integrated in 1968 and now serves students regardless of race, though the wall remains as physical reminder of this history.<ref name="gallery"/>