Brewster Building

Brewster is one of the largest academic buildings on campus and was completed in 1970. It was named for Dr. Lawrence F. Brewster, a longtime professor of history and founder of ECU’s graduate program in history. It was designed to accommodate multiple departments, including history, political science, and foreign languages. It was designed by Jesse M. Page & Associates out of Raleigh, NC, and has a distinctive Brutalist style. Narrow, slit-like windows and stone shutters limit visibility and access, increasing security. Staircases are hidden from the building’s exterior, and metal gates can be rapidly lowered to secure the area. A generator provides full backup power, reinforcing the structure’s self-sufficiency (Building Histories, 2025). Built with face brick cavity walls and concrete block reinforcement in areas B, C, and D, the building’s defensive design reflects concerns of its era. There is an enduring rumor that this architectural style may have been chosen in part to shield students and staff from potential unrest and protest activity during the Vietnam War (Higgins, 2017).

Photograph of Brewster Building Construction

Brewster Building construction. 1969. Visual Media: Black and White Images. UA55.01.271. East Carolina University Digital Collections. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/57029. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Photograph of Brewster Building Exterior Windows

Brewster Building. 1981. Visual Media: Black and White Images. UA55.01.272. East Carolina University Digital Collections. https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/57030. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.