University System of Georgia

University System of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia

University System of Georgia report to the Getty (Website)

In 1784 Georgia became the first state in the South to charter a state–supported university. Two centuries later, the University System of Georgia comprises 34 colleges, and universities, and owns approximately 40 percent of all the historic buildings under state ownership in Georgia. To guide the process of campus planning at all its institutions, the USG has developed an exemplary master planning template. With grant aid, a historic preservation component will now be added to this template, which will first be implemented at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville.

University System of Georgia received a Getty grant in 2003 for $180,000 to support campus heritage planning.

Report Summary

Chartered in 1784, the University of Georgia has grown to 34 colleges and universities that now comprise the University System of Georgia, overseen by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG).

Purpose: In 2003 the USG sought and received a Getty grant of $180,000 on behalf of the system to develop a set of guidelines for its campuses’ historic preservation planning, the Campus Historic Preservation Plan (CHPP) Guidelines. The CHPP Guidelines were developed to integrate historic preservation planning into the USG campus master planning process and are a companion document to the USG Master Planning Guidelines. The CHPP Guidelines support the preservation of campus heritage and provide a framework for defining the rich cultural landscapes of shared meanings on the system’s campuses. Furthermore, the CHPP Guidelines acknowledge that the history of the University System of Georgia exists both in tradition—the customs and practices of each school; and in the physical dimension—the buildings, landscapes, monuments, archaeological sites, and other cultural resources that define the academic campuses. In addition, the grant has enabled the USG to test drive the guidelines at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville as a template for preservation planning throughout the system.

How the Plan is Organized:

The CHPP Guidelines are a comprehensive reference for campus administrators, campus and preservation planners, and stakeholders. Part I of the document defines the three major categories of cultural resources: Historic Architecture, Historic Landscapes, and Archaeology, and provides an overview of these resources with the USG. Part II explains the campus preservation planning process within the context of guiding legislation and the official planning policy of the Board of Regents (BOR). Part III outlines the structure of a CHPP document, the purpose of each section, and provides standardized Scopes of Work for professional services. Following Part III, the document contains a glossary of relevant terminology, and a series of appendices for further reference.

Historic Designations: The most recent survey of the Board of Regent’s historic property holdings was the State-Owned Building Survey conducted in 1993. At that time, the USG possessed 436 buildings constructed before 1943. These comprised nearly 40% of all historic buildings owned by the State of Georgia and were greater than any other state agency. All or parts of six USG Institutions are listed within existing National Register Districts, including the entire campus of Fort Valley State University – one of three USG Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s). Four Institutions have associated individual National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) including the Old Governor’s Mansion (circa 1838) at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Benet Hall (circa 1826) at Augusta State University, the Dixie Coca-Cola Bottling Company Building1 (circa 1892) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and the Old Medical College Building2 (circa 1834) at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Current surveys indicate that of the buildings owned by the USG, more than 700 are fifty years old or older and potentially eligible for listing in the GNRHP, individually and/or as contributing resources to historic districts. Some of these buildings have been listed, but many remain to be identified. With the passing of years since that survey, certainly many more buildings are now eligible for listing. Additionally, the University System experienced tremendous growth in the Post World War II era and many campus buildings were built during this period. Some of the era’s most significant modern buildings in Georgia are located on USG campuses.

Planning Process: The document was prepared by Lord, Aeck & Sargent with the assistance of Sasaki Associates, the Jaeger Company, and Southern Research Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc. under the guidance of the USG Office of Real Estate and Facilities and in consultation with the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which serves as the state historic preservation office and provides technical assistance and compliance review for the State Agencies of Georgia.

Outcomes:

Products:

• A template, manual and reference resource for campus historic preservation planning
• A pilot project to test and apply the guidelines on a campus
• Scopes of work for professional services

Plan:

• Campus Historic Preservation Plan Guidelines

Unique Features

A template for system wide application that is consistent with federal and state guidelines, designed to save campuses time and resources in working through preservation planning processes. A useful outline that can be adapted by other state systems.

Advisors:

Lord, Aeck & Sargent
Susan Turner, AIA
Jon Buono

Sasaki Associates
Dick Galehouse, AICP

The Jaeger Company
Dale Jaeger, FASLA
Diana Miles, AICP

Southern Research Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc.
Dean Wood, RPA
Rita Elliott, RPA

Credits and Links: Guidelines Working Group
University System of Georgia Board of Regents
Office of Real Estate & Facilities
Alan Travis, Director of Planning
Michael Miller, AIA, Campus Program Manager

Organizational Contact: Michael W Miller, AIA
Program Manager & USG Historic Preservation Officer
Office of Real Estate & Facilities
Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia
270 Washington Street, SW
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-1450
office: 404-463-7574
fax: 404-657-7433
email: michael.miller@usg.edu
http://www.usg.edu/ref/