Mission Park Consists of 4 houses put together to form one huge ugly award-winning concrete monstrosity. The 4 houses are [[Armstrong]], [[Pratt]], [[Mills]] and [[Dennett]]. It looks like a dungeon (or parking garage, depending on whom you ask) from the inside, a cinder block from the outside, and (reportedly) a phoenix from above. However, since the [[Summer 2003]] renovations, it's extremely nice on the inside, featuring large, well furnished lounges for every four hallways, and general lounges on the ground floor with two televisions, two pool tables, and an old but still awesome foosball table.
Mission was built in the early 1970's, at a time when the college was worried about destruction to property due to riots. This fear was the force behind Mission's initial design, which featured unbreakable windows, sturdy light fixtures, and heavy dividing doors between suites to discourage congregation. Furthermore, worried about furniture theft, the college chose room furniture so that only the bookcases could fit through the bedroom doors. How did they furnish the rooms, then? Beds, desks, and wardrobes were inserted into rooms before the windows were installed, via a huge pneumatic hoist that lifted them through the gaping, windowless holes. The process took several days to complete. [http://www.ephblog.com/archives/002352.html#comments [1<nowiki>]</nowiki>] The complex's class make-up has changed over the years. When it was initially builtin the early 1970's, it had a mix of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. From the 1980's to the present, the vast majority of Mission has been sophomore housing. Most students consider spending their sophomore year in Mission to be a good thing, as friends' and classmates' closeness makes socialization with new and old friends easier this year than any other.
It is interesting to note that an aerial view of Mission shows it to be shaped somewhat like an eagle, with its wings spread, well...eagle. Many don't see this when looking at satellite images of Mission Park, but if you look hard enough, you can at least imagine it. Whether the architects did indeed intend this, or whether it is an urban legend is unknown to me. Perhaps an editor who knows for sure can clean this up.