Once limited to male students, then to freshmen of both sexes... Now welcoming all undergraduates who are drawn to its College Houses. For generations, Penn women sought the opportunity to live in the Quad. In 1971, they joined their male classmates in creating a microcosm of "the real world." With the creation of the College Houses in 1998, the Quad has become the kind of home within the University envisioned by Provost Harrison in the 1890s.

Once designed for late-Victorian lifestyles ... Now offering the amenities needed by contemporary students. When a Penn student arrived at the beginning of the 20th century, his Quad room accommodated oriental rugs, heavy draperies, heavy furniture, and a personal library - all designed to reproduce his life at home. Today's students find rooms wired for computer technology, microwave ovens, stereo systems, and other "necessities" - all designed to create spaces uniquely the students' own.

Once solely residential ... Now providing academic support services that link students and faculty. Formerly, Quad residents had to leave their "home" to get help with a paper or information for a presentation. Today's students have round-the-clock access to computing advisors, tutoring services, academic advising, and library resources right in their rooms.