Usen Castle

Usen Castle, also known simply as The Castle, is a distinctive historic structure located at 415 South Street in Waltham, Massachusetts, situated atop Boston Rock on the Brandeis University campus. Constructed in 1928 by Dr. John Hall Smith, the founder of the former Middlesex College of Medicine and Surgery, the building was designed in a Norman castle style that stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding modern architecture. Its unique medieval appearance features an enclosed courtyard formed by six connected sections, adorned with numerous turrets, towers, crenellations, and pinnacles reportedly inspired by Lismore Castle in Ireland. The construction utilized unusual materials for its time, including colored concrete and ceramic inlays, while the interior retains original Gothic features that provided a distinctive atmosphere for residents.

Historically significant as one of only two surviving buildings from the Middlesex College era, the site was acquired by Brandeis University after the medical school closed in 1945. Initially housing administrative offices, a dining hall, and dormitories, the structure was converted exclusively for residential use during the 1950s and served as a student dormitory for decades. Its architectural uniqueness and historical value led to its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. However, the building faced structural challenges in recent years, leading to a partial demolition in the summer of 2017. Following safety condemnations by the city, several sections including Castle Towers C, D, and E were removed to facilitate new construction, though portions of the original complex remained in use as student residences until the end of the fall semester that same year.