From the oversize windows in the room called “the Fishbowl” at Currier House, you can see lush green grass and blossoming trees on alternate sloping hillsides. Students who live in Currier, on Radcliffe Quad, have a longer walk to classes than their River House classmates but live more quietly, surrounded by nature. Since 1970, when Currier opened, the great outdoors have been invited inside. More recently, following the lead of the original architects, current Currier residents have “greened” the way they live, introducing environmental initiatives. Low-flow toilets and dishware drives are part of life in this House they call home. Living in a place nicknamed the “Tree House” comes with responsibility, which Currier’s staff and residents have embraced.
Audrey Bruce Currier House opened in 1970, named after a Radcliffe alumna who had died in a plane crash. The architects, Harrison and Abramovitz, surveyed students about their desires for housing, and so pioneered small clusters of dorm units, each with upstairs bedrooms and a downstairs living room. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer In 1972, full coeducational dormitories were instituted at Harvard — pictured here are the men and women of Currier House in a yearbook from the 1970s. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer This black and white photograph of the Master’s living room at Currier House was published in a booklet distributed at the House dedication in 1971. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Yohannes Tewolde, the current and beloved night security guard at Currier, walks past the house entrance. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Patricia Machado (right) works in Dining Services at Currier House and is welcomed to work by Yohannes Tewolde. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Because of the difficulty of pronouncing his first name, security guard Yohannes Tewolde is often called “Your Highness.” Here he shares a laugh with students Peter Davis ’12 (center) and Alexander Ramek ’12. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer
Staff Photo Rose Lincoln/Harvard University News Office Says Yohannes Tewolde, “I hope I’m making a difference in their lives, encouraging them if they’re down. I tell them they’re doing a good job, and I pray for them. Sometimes I tell them to take a nap and get some rest. They tell me I’m like a mom or a dad.” He is pictured here with Suzanna Bobadilla ’13 (right), who waits for the bus. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Yohannes Tewolde goofs around with Currier resident Richard Maopolski (right). Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Devon Newhouse ’13, the “Eco Rep” for Currier House, proves that trash can indeed be treasure: She hosts a swap for clothing — and whatever else — in the House’s laundry room. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Residents post ideas for a greener Currier on a board in the dining hall. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer As part of an effort to make the House “greener,” Building Manager Manny Casillas replaced all incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent in all custodial, mechanical, and storage closets. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer One of the youngest residents of Currier is Mara Cavallaro. Her parents, Nadejda Marques (right) and Jim Cavallaro, are Currier’s House Masters. Her friend Autumn Galindo (left) holds the other end of the jump rope. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Some days, Mara’s bedroom is her gymnasium. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Autumn Galindo (left) waits for her ride after visiting her friend, Currier resident Mara Cavallaro, who is holding the door for a student. Mara’s mother, House Master Nadejda Marques (center), looks on. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Mara (left) and friend Autumn play air hockey while Currier students play ping-pong in the lower level lounge. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Mara plays the piano in the dance studio at Currier. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer The “Fishbowl” at Currier offers a place to watch television, and, for Mara and friend, it is a place to perch. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Young Currier resident Mara Cavallaro, on the school bus, is unhappy because her father, House Master Jim Cavallaro, is leaving on a work-related trip. He signs “I love you” to her. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Two days a week Mara gets a bike ride to ballet by Currier resident Lindsey Brinton ’12. Mara usually reads a book to and from the studio. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Lindsey Brinton ’12 teaches Mara to play the piano during their babysitting sessions at Currier House, where both reside. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Living in the only undergraduate House at Harvard named solely for a woman are block mates Rachel Bervell (from left), Nadia Farjood, Jeanette Schnierle, Jordan Ashwood, Sarah Mumanachit, Karina Herrera, and Melissa Naidoo. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer Students wait in the foyer for the shuttle as snow falls at Currier House. Rose Lincoln/Harvard Staff Photographer A Currier resident displays more than the conventional poster at Housing Day. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer When the various Houses extend invitations for living assignments to freshmen, Mark Piana ’11 (center, bare chest), and Kevin Chen ’12 (right) whoop it up for Currier House. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer Currier House revelers are easily identified at Housing Day. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer Currier’s finest and wettest, Alyssa Devlin ’11 (left) and Allan Bradley ’11, approach a dorm in the Yard to welcome new House members at Housing Day. Jon Chase/Harvard Staff Photographer Currier resident Danielle Gram co-founded the nonprofit Kids for Peace, an organization that “works with children ages 3 to 10 to empower them to lead the way to a more tolerant, nonviolent society.” She was featured in Harvard’s special Commencement issue. Stephanie Mitchell/Harvard Staff Photographer Diplomas are awarded at Currier House. Katherine C. Cohen/Harvard Staff Photographer Currier resident Tiffany Fereydouni is congratulated with a hug. Katherine C. Cohen/Harvard Staff Photographer
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