University of Florida, Gainsville

University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida Historic Campus (Website)

The University of Florida, Gainesville, opened in 1906 with two unfinished buildings and 102 students. Today, the university has an enrollment of 70,000 students occupying 900 buildings on 2,000 acres. The 70–acre historic core built in the Collegiate Gothic style was designated as the University of Florida National Historic District in 1989, encompassing 22 buildings. Grant funds will allow the university to develop comprehensive preservation guidelines and to train facilities staff in the maintenance of historic buildings and landscapes.

University of Florida received a Getty grant in 2003 for $150,000 to support campus heritage planning.

Report Summary

Purpose: In 1906, the University of Florida, Gainsville opened with two unfinished buildings and 102 students. Today, the flagship university has nearly 70,000 students, faculty, and staff and more than 900 buildings on a 2,000-acre campus. Support from the Getty Foundation’s Campus Heritage Initiative funded the development of a preservation plan and guidelines for the historic core and comprises four “context zones.” These areas are characterized by consistent architectural expression and its visual and functional linkages between the built and natural environment. The sites contained therein not only have significant historic value but they are also integral to the daily functions of the university.

Other sources of funding supported the development of recommendations for this impact area, including rehabilitation and new construction, and the study of the significance of early post-WW II era architecture.

Historic Designation(s): University of Florida National Historic District and more than one dozen individual sites (National Register of Historic Places); Floyd Hall (HABS).

Planning Process: A wide-ranging group of staff and specialized consultants worked together to frame the preservation plan in relation to several aspects of campus development over time.

Outcomes—Products: The project resulted in the report, “The University of Florida Campus Preservation Plan with Guidelines for Rehabilitation and New Construction in the Historic Impact Area.” This publication provides historic context of the institution’s growth, examines the spatial configuration and evolution of it, offers an overview of six recent case studies, and examines multiple landscapes. An extensive website was also created, offering resources regarding preservation resources and recommendations about processes and strategies for future work.

Outcomes—Strategies and Goals for the Future: The preservation plan and guidelines provide both information and tools to preserve and protect the cohesive character of the historic impact area. They also have established a point of reference for encouraging compatible and creative expression if changes to the campus’ facilities are proposed for the future.