9 Stunning Landmarks That Make USF Unique

Here are nine masterpieces on campus and the stories behind them. Find out more below:

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1. Equatorial Armillary Sphere

In the 17th century, Flemish Jesuit missionary Fr. Ferdinand Verbiest, S.J. set out for China. He eventually earned the role of Astronomer Royal to Qing dynasty emperor Kangxi. Verbiest oversaw the creation of an astronomical device that was used to chart celestial objects and improve the accuracy of the Qing calendar. The statue on campus is an exact replica of the device. The statue was dedicated to former Art + Architecture professor and Thacher Gallery director, Fr. Thomas Lucas, S.J., by Mary and Steven Read.

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2. Laudato Si Mural

The powerful mural brings awareness to environmental justice, the Indigenous peoples of the Bay Area, and Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment — Laudato Si. The Artist as Citizen class led by Professor Sergio De La Torre created the piece in 2022. Fr. Dónal Godfrey, S.J., University Chaplain and Associate Director for Faculty and Staff Spirituality, commissioned the mural, which was made possible through a generous gift by his late parents.

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3. Kalmanovitz Hall Portals

Most San Franciscans have heard of West Portal, but what about the Santa Maria de Ovila Portal? Or the Romanesque Portal? Both can be found in K-hall. The former, framing the outdoor auditorium stage, was made in 1575 as the entry to a monastery near Madrid. The latter, built into the foundation of the atrium, was made in northern Italy between the 12th and early 13th century and features a depiction of Adam and Eve. Both were gifts from the De Young Museum.

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4. Los Lobos de Loyola (Wolves and Kettle)

There is compelling lore behind the green patina statue in front of Gleeson Library. Many centuries ago, a prosperous family in the Basque country of Spain, the Loyolas, are said to have generously provided for their community — to the point that they even nourished the local wolves. Therefore, in the Jesuit tradition, the statue is a symbol of giving and generosity. Sculpted by Mexico City artist Pancho Cárdenas, the statue has a counterpart at the Universidad Iberoamericana, in Mexico City, Mexico’s oldest Jesuit university.

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5. Malloy Pavilion Signage

Here’s one you might not have seen before. This newer donor recognition installation is built on a base of original 1958 wood bleachers from War Memorial Gym, as a thank-you to the donors who made the new basketball practice facility possible.

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6. Mary and Carter Thacher Gallery

Created by Mary and Carter Thacher in 1998, the gallery is a cornerstone of the arts at USF. For over a quarter of a century, the Thacher Gallery has hosted exhibitions with a focus on art from California, emerging artists, Bay Area icons, and major collections that reflect the university’s commitment to social justice. It also serves as a space for hands-on training for students interested in art and museum studies.

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7. Rock Garden

This heart-shaped garden is one of the many stops on the URBAN Trail — a self-guided campus mindfulness walk. The trail is named for alumnus, author, and generous USF supporter, Hal Urban. The rock garden epitomizes Mr. Urban’s message, with instructions to “take a rock when you need some good news…then leave a rock to pass on good news to others.”

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8. Innovation Hive Honeycomb

The ingenious signage, installed in 2022, thanks many generous donors who made USF’s Innovation Hive possible. It leans into the ‘hive’ theme with a reminder to bee grateful for those who support student innovators. So many names to comb through!

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9. Tides

Last, but not least, Tides, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the San Francisco College for Women/Lone Mountain Alumnae Class of 1968, is a marble sculpture by San Francisco native sculptor Yoko Kubrick. Taking inspiration from the Ruth Asawa sculpture fountains in Japantown, it weighs in at nearly 5,000 pounds. 20 gallons of crushed ice were used to cushion it, to avoid damaging the marble, when it was installed.

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