University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

University of Arkansas Campus Preservation Master Plan 1 of 2 (PDF) 31.3MB

University of Arkansas Campus Preservation Master Plan 2 of 2 (PDF) 93MB

The first building of the University of Arkansas, Old Main, was completed in 1875 with plans purchased long distance from a Chicago architect. From these modest beginnings, the campus grew into three distinct areas, each with its own building types and landscapes, including Classical and Colonial Revival, Collegiate Gothic, WPA, and International styles. While the university currently has eleven buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, the campus experienced tremendous growth in the latter half of the twentieth century with mixed results. This ad hoc construction and planning led to a 1998 revised master plan and fueled the university's desire to address the planning and maintenance needs of its historic resources. With Getty funds, the university is developing National Register nominations for additional campus buildings, identifying appropriate guidelines for maintenance and treatment, and developing a training program for maintenance personnel.

The University of Arkansas received a Getty grant in 2007 for $170,000 to support campus heritage planning.

Report Summary

Purpose: With Getty funds, the university is developing National Register nominations for additional campus buildings, identifying appropriate guidelines for maintenance and treatment, and developing a training program for maintenance personnel.

Historic Designation: The 345-acre campus contains three distinct areas, each with its own building types and landscapes. An additional 423 acres, known as the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Education Center, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The campus’ historic core has been nominated to the National Register as a Historic District. The core will encompass six individual landscape areas--Old Main Lawn, Senior Walk, Chi Omega Greek Theatre, Fine Arts Center, Phoenix House, and McIlroy House—as well as 11 buildings already listed individually on the National Register of Historic Places.

• Old Main (1875), NRHP 1972
• Carnall Hall (1906), NRHP 1982
• Agriculture Building, NRHP 1992
• Chi Omega Chapter House (1928), NRHP 1995
• Chi Omega Greek Theater (1930) (also documented in HABS drawings), NRHP 1995
• Vol Walker Hall (1935), NRHP 1992
• Chemistry Building (1935), NRHP 1992
• Field House/Men’s Gymnasium (1937), NRHP 1992
• Home Economics Building (1940), NRHP 1992
• Memorial Hall (Student Union, 1940), NRHP 1992
• Business Administration Building (Ozark Hall, 1947), NRHP 1995 and
• Newport Branch Station, Arkansas Agricultural Research and Education Center (Erwin Auxiliary Army Airfield), NRHP 2008

Architects include John Mills Van Osdell (a design for the University of Illinois), Charles L. Thompson and O.L. Gates, L.J. Roberts, James P. Jamieson and George Spearl, Charles L. Ellis, Edward Durrell Stone, John G. Williams, Paul Young Jr., and Herbert Fowler. Christopher Tunnard and Edward D. Stone, Jr., produced landscaping designs. E. Fay Jones and Maurice Jennings designed a water feature.

University of Arkansas classes began in 1871 on the former McIlroy farm. From University Hall or “Old Main,” in 1875, the campus grew into three distinct areas, each with its own building types and landscapes, including Classical and Colonial Revival, Collegiate Gothic, WPA, and International styles. Tremendous growth in the latter half of the twentieth century with ad hoc construction and planning led to a 1998 revised master plan and an emphasis on the planning and maintenance needs of historic resources.

Planning Process Used

• Separate architectural and landscape surveys were conducted both at the university’s central campus and at Arkansas Agricultural Research and Education Center.
• Based on superficial condition assessments (exterior only), general treatment guidelines were developed (for exterior as well as interior situations) along with building-specific recommendations.
• All pre-1968 university buildings were inventoried at university’s central campus and at Arkansas Agricultural Research and Education Center, along with all fraternity and sorority houses near the central campus
• Significant historic resources on the building inventory were identified according to National Register criteria
• State of Arkansas architectural inventory forms were prepared for buildings identified as significant historic resources
• Facilities Management Planning Group was enlisted to define campus historic core and prepare a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places as the University of Arkansas Campus Historic District
• Hands-on demonstrations were organized for university staff, teaching treatment of historic building materials and elements
• Recommend building preservation guidelines and practices into campus master plan, affecting all building projects
• Identification of historic resources adjacent to, i.e., subject to impact from, the campus:
• • Three historic districts: West Dickson Street; Mount Nord; and Wilson Park
  • Six sites: Evergreen Cemetery; Gregg House; Villa Rosa; Lafayette Street Overpass; Maple Street Overpass; Magnolia Filling Station; West Dickson Street; Mount Nord; and Wilson Park

Outcomes: Products

• Inventory of all pre-1968 university buildings at university’s central campus and at Arkansas Agricultural Research and Education Center, as well as of all fraternity and sorority houses near the central campus
• Illustrated catalog of historic architectural resources within the proposed Core Historic District and the Arkansas Agricultural Research and Education Center, plus an illustrated catalog of campus landscape resources
• State of Arkansas architectural inventory forms for significant historic buildings identified from the inventory
• Baseline condition information on the pre-1968 buildings inventoried, collectively known as a “Catalog of Resources”
• Determination of Eligibility form for Arkansas Historic Preservation Program (Nomination of a University of Arkansas Campus Historic Core to the National Register of Historic Places)
• Historic District Nomination package for National Register of Historic Places (Nomination of a University of Arkansas Campus Historic Core to the National Register of Historic Places)
• Illustrated glossaries of architectural styles and of the NRHP landscape categories.
• Hands-on demonstrations for university staff, teaching treatment of historic building materials and elements
• List of options for interpretive methods regarding all historical resources
• Markers for razed buildings
• Interpretive outline for a campus tour

Outcomes: Plans

Nomination for a University of Arkansas Campus Historic Core has been submitted to the National Register of Historic Places

Outcomes: Policies and Practices

The university has already demonstrated commitment to better informing the physical master planning process by holding hands-on demonstrations for university staff, teaching treatment of historic building materials and elements

Unique Features

• Survey of resources 40-plus years old in order to capture both significant resources 50 or more years old and any younger, contributory resources
• Articulation of rehabilitation as environmentally responsible practice
• Discussion of tree density
• Full “chapter” devoted to implementing recommendations
• Scale of significance adapted from Reed College
• Recommendation to appoint a Campus Preservation Officer who would overlap with the Facilities Management Planning Group
• Treatment guidelines for artificial siding
• Options for interpretive methods regarding all historical resources; creation of razed building markers as well as an interpretive outline for a campus tour.
• Hands-on demonstrations for university staff, teaching treatment of historic building materials and elements

Advisors: Consultants acknowledged help from: University’s Facilities Management Planning Group; Arkansas Agricultural Research & Extension Center; Arkansas Historic Preservation Program; University of Arkansas School of Architecture; University of Arkansas Special Collections