Brown University has officially dedicated Andrews House as the new home for its Cogut Institute for the Humanities, marking a significant step in fostering interdisciplinary learning and scholarly collaboration. The dedication ceremony, held at the newly renovated building, saw President Christina Paxson, Institute Director Amanda Anderson, and faculty members celebrate the transformation of Andrews House into a vibrant hub for humanistic inquiry.
Located at 13 Brown St., Andrews House has a rich and varied history. Before its recent reconstruction in 2023, it briefly served as the home for the Africana Studies/Rites and Reason Theatre department. Interestingly, its past also includes a stint as a health services building, a detail President Paxson humorously acknowledged during the dedication. “I’ve already spoken to two people who said that they remember living in this building with mononucleosis,” Paxson remarked, highlighting the building’s dramatic shift in purpose. “I have to say this makes a much better humanities institute than a health center.”
Originally built in 1900 by renowned architect Ogden Codman, Jr., Andrews House was initially designed as a winter residence for textile magnate Alfred M. Coats. It later served as the Rhode Island governor’s mansion and then Brown’s Faculty Club before becoming a campus infirmary in the 1930s. This historical backdrop adds depth to its current role as a center for intellectual and academic pursuit.
President Paxson emphasized the critical role of such a community hub in promoting interdisciplinary learning. She articulated the enduring value of humanities education, stating, “Through studying the humanities, we develop the habits of mind, critical thinking, deep reading, productive dialogue, and the ability to hone our sense of what we value and what we want our place in the world to be. And that’s the kind of work that I hope happens here.” Her words underscore the university’s commitment to fostering a space where these essential skills are nurtured and advanced.
Prior to the dedication, a tour of Andrews House revealed the thoughtful renovations aimed at creating a dynamic environment for cross-humanities study. The interior immediately impresses with its marble floor, soaring ceilings, and an elegant white spiral staircase, a departure from typical university buildings. Ava Pellagrini ’26, a student taking a Postcolonial literature class in Andrews House, described the first floor as resembling “a museum,” highlighting its aesthetic appeal and inspiring atmosphere.
Gregory Kimbrell, the Cogut Institute’s communications manager, noted the building’s architectural significance. While considered “elaborate and ornate” for its time, it was also seen as a move towards “stripped back and going back to the basics” in architectural design. This historical context informed the renovation, aiming to respect the building’s original character while modernizing it for contemporary academic needs.
Catie Manning ’25, who researched the history of Andrews House, explained the renovation’s philosophy: “Before Brown rewrote everything the building used to be, they wanted us to recognize it for what it was.” Manning and her colleagues delved into archives at the John Hay Library and historical newspaper clippings to uncover the building’s multifaceted past, ensuring the renovation honored its heritage.
Kimbrell further elaborated that a primary goal of the renovation was to “restore the building to what it had been like before the infirmary” while integrating modern amenities for Brown’s faculty and students. For instance, the former first-floor ballroom, once a venue for dignitaries during its time as the governor’s mansion, has been transformed into a premier event space for Cogut Institute scholars, facilitating academic gatherings and intellectual exchange.
Adjacent to the ballroom, a space that once served as a dining area is now a welcoming reception room. This room hosts weekly seminars for the Cogut Institute’s undergraduate fellowship, creating a regular forum for intellectual discourse and community building among students.
The second floor of Andrews House is dedicated to various centers and initiatives within the institute. Notably, it houses the Center for the Study of the Early Modern World and the newly established Center for Environmental Humanities. Kimbrell expressed hopes that the latter might expand to offer graduate certificates or concentrations, indicating the institute’s forward-looking vision and commitment to evolving fields of study.
The third and top floor of Andrews House features a kitchen, a library, and the building’s largest seminar room. These spaces are designed to support both formal academic activities and informal interactions, fostering a sense of community and intellectual engagement.
Amanda Anderson highlighted the intentional design of communal spaces to encourage interaction and collaboration. “We were concerned about creating community, and making it a place where people would want to gather, would want to study, would want to hang out,” Anderson explained. Early observations suggest this goal is being realized, with students already utilizing the spaces for study and informal meetings.
Outside, the transformation extends to the grounds. What was once a parking lot has been converted into a green space, complete with an accessible ramp and benches. Kimbrell emphasized this aspect of the renovation, stating, “A big part of this was to make this space feel more like a part of Brown,” integrating Andrews House more seamlessly into the campus environment.
Daniel Newgarden ’25, an undergraduate fellow at the institute, praised the new space and the opportunities it provides. “The environment has been really wonderful for having a cohort of people, both at the undergraduate level and then across the University — graduate, postdoc and Faculty Fellows,” Newgarden said. He valued the “rare kind of intergenerational group … where we are all using the same kind of grounding philosophy of humanistic inquiry” that the institute fosters.
For Amanda Anderson, Andrews House embodies the essence of the Cogut Institute. “Brown has such dynamic humanities scholars, and it has such a strong tradition of being strong in the humanities,” Anderson stated. She described the events, lecture series, and seminars as deeply enriching, saying, “where we have a two-hour conversation is like my church.” This sentiment encapsulates the profound intellectual and communal value Andrews House brings to Brown University’s humanities community, solidifying its role as a vital learning hub.
