Forged in time

Wrought iron or copper, intricately designed or simply utilitarian, one-of-a-kind gates are ubiquitous across the Yale campus. Seen by some as barriers and others as entryways, these hand-forged architectural elements are worthy of a closer look. Among them, five gates stand out as true masterpieces.

Phelps Gate

Walking through Phelps Gate, passersby may not realize its enduring significance to the Yale community. Constructed in 1896 as part of Phelps Hall, named in honor of William W. Phelps (Yale College Class of 1860), it was originally considered the university’s main entrance. The gate’s short stone tunnel cuts through Phelps Hall, which resembles a medieval gatehouse.

Today, the original wrought iron, Tudor-style gates that bookend its arched entryway remain open, allowing access to Old Campus and inviting visitors to stroll the interior grounds. Phelps Gate is a symbolic spot where most first-year students initially enter Yale, and many seniors pass through one last time during the Commencement procession.

Location: 344 College Street
Date: 1896
Material: Wrought iron
Architect: Charles C. Haight (1841-1917)
Need to know: Phelps Gate is open 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. during the academic year.

Humanities Quadrangle Gate

These frothy mint-colored gates tucked beneath a stone and brick archway, stand stoically between intricate stone carvings. Originally conceived as an outdoor entryway for the Hall of Graduate Studies (now the Humanities Quadrangle), the ornate green patina gates are part of the building’s enclosed lobby space. The gates were cleaned during the building’s recent renovation and remain permanently open. They feature dozens of metal leaves crafted to resemble foliage using monel (a nickel-copper alloy). When exposed to air and moisture, monel gains a green copper oxide surface layer, giving the gates their distinctive appearance.

Location: 320 York Street
Date: 1932
Material: Monel, a nickel copper alloy
Artist: Samuel Yellin (1885-1940)
Need to know: Another example of a gate made from monel is at the Trumbull Head of College House along Rose Walk.

Noah Porter Gate

The massive Noah Porter Gate stands between Grace Hopper College and Berkeley College along Elm Street. It was installed in 1912 in memory of Reverend Noah Porter, Class of 1831, who served as president of Yale from 1871 to 1881. Anchored on either side by two large brick piers, the gate stands 20 feet high and 30 feet wide. Droves of students, staff, and visitors walk beneath it. It was closed in 1959, and reopened in 1971 after a successful petition arguing that it offered easy access to Commons Dining Hall for hungry students. All graduating students and honorees process through it on their way to Old Campus during the Commencement procession.

Location: 214 Elm Street
Date: 1912
Material: Iron
Architect: Howells & Stokes
Need to know: This pedestrian path is often referred to by students as Grub Street.

Memorial Quadrangle Gate

Perhaps Yale’s grandest entryway is the Memorial Quadrangle Gate on High Street. Wrought iron and forged by hand, it boasts a decidedly military theme. Its panels depict the five branches of the US armed services, along with soldiers, signal flags, eagles, and weapons. The heavy black metal grille is set against the calming greenery of the Branford College courtyard’s gardens, lawns, and shrubbery. The gate’s intricate detailing is so bold and fascinating that one might initially overlook the massive honey-colored stone archway in which it stands adjacent to Harkness Tower. To truly appreciate its magnificence and craftsmanship, an in-person, up-close viewing is essential.

Location: 74 High Street
Date: 1918-1922
Material: Wrought iron
Architect: Samuel Yellin (1885-1940)
Need to know: The door handle is a soldier.

Class of 1964 Gate

Headed for lunch at the carts in front of Ingalls Rink? Consider taking a detour to appreciate the graceful entryway to Benjamin Franklin College. The college, which opened in 2017, is, along with Pauli Murray College, one of the newest on campus. Despite its modern inception, its Prospect Street gate was hand-wrought by blacksmiths and donated by Yale’s Class of 1964 as part of their class gift in honor of their 55th reunion. This version offers a more modern and lighter interpretation of the typical Gothic style gate. Its circular and scrolling patterns convey a simpler and elegant feel compared to the more ornate versions found across campus, while decorative elements include flowers adorning the archway and leaves across the middle.

Location: Benjamin Franklin College, Prospect Street
Date: 2017
Material: Iron
Artist: Robert A. M. Stern Architects and Covax Design and Atelier
Need to know: Video featuring some of Franklin’s gates being hand forged.