University of California, Berkeley

University of California Berkeley, Berkley, California

University of California Berkeley Landscape Heritage Plan (Website)

Since Berkeley received its charter in 1868, its development has been guided by established architects and landscape architects such as Émile Bénard, John Galen Howard, Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan, and Frederick Law Olmsted. In recent years, the university has worked to restore and preserve its historic buildings. The grant will support an historic landscape preservation plan component of a new campus master plan. In addition, it will allow Berkeley to undertake a cultural resource survey and conditions assessment of landscape features to create a management plan.

University of California Berkeley received a Getty grant in 2002 for $250,000 to support campus heritage planning.

Report Summary

Public university , multi school system

Landscape Heritage Plan (LHP) 3rd of series of planning documents. This plan focus on historic classic core.

Forward page by NPS

Identify and define campus classic core.

Purpose of LHP: preserve historic legacy of classic campus core, framework of future growth and preservation, enhance quality of life, stewardship, model for other schools, need to accommodate future improvements.

Utilization of NPS standards

Study process: identify nine areas within classical core.

• Cultural landscape defined.
• Historical significance of areas established.
• Cultural landscape and criteria National Register for Historic Places.
• Study of campus history.
• Nine sites and nine treatment strategies
• Campanile Way / Sather Rd., rehabilitation
• Mining Circle / Oppenheimer Way, restoration and rehabilitation.

Implementation Concepts and Methodology

Landscape assessments of specific campus areas based on established criteria: period of significance, landscape integrity, campus context, educational significance, cultural significance, landscape design and architects and other professionals, defining features.

Application of cultural landscape treatment standards to several of the areas, preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, reconstruction.

• Campanile Way/Sather Rd. recommended treatment is rehabilitation.
• Mining Circle / Oppenheimer Way: restoration and rehabilitation.

Funding Strategies for LHP Implementation:

Capital Campaigns, class campaigns, public funding, campus discretionary funds, Memorial gifts / endowments, grants, city-campus partnerships, deferred maintenance.

Landscape Guidelines and Goals:

• Respect character of historic landscape
• Integrate functional, aesthetic, and sustainable considerations
• Provide safe and accessible environment.

Site Planning Issues: views, circulation, drainage, service areas, utilities

Landscape Components: planting, paving materials, lighting, pedestrian barriers, traffic controls, furnishings, signage.

Processes:

• Define, identify campus core.
• Examine 9 areas in classical core,
• Apply cultural landscape treatment standards to each of the 9 areas.

Outcome: adhere to Dept. of Interior standards, vocabulary, definitions.

Noteworthy Architects and Other Professionals: FL Olmstead, John Howard, John Gregg, Thomas Church, Lawrence Halprin

Final report published and available online.