Historic Section of UF Campus to be Torn Up

[Tolbert1906]

I am not really much of an environmentalist, but this really bugs me. Plans are under way for the construction of a new building in the heavily-wooded northeast section of the UF Campus Historic District (at the intersection of University and 13th). The new business building will be called Heavener Hall and will be attached to the existing historic Bryan Hall.
http://www.facilities.ufl.edu/projects/project.php?prj=8925

Construction would involve cutting down up to 100 mature trees or so. From what I have seen of the plans for the building, it also looks as if the iconic "UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA" sign will be removed and replaced with some sort of entrance plaza featuring sculptures of alligators.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6hc2xW3Vj_E/SM11IgHt4sI/AAAAAAAACEk/cSd4f9BzIBw/20080914_Gainesville_125.JPG

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120518/ARTICLES/120519564
http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_aee75740-6b69-11e2-b291-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=story

That corner of campus is a defining feature of the University. It's one of the really gorgeous sections of campus in my opinion (mainly because of the trees and the old gothic buildings like Bryan and Anderson Halls). The Historic District is supposed to be a protected area, but here they go throwing in yet another building... making things even more crowded and further reducing the tree canopy at UF. Anyone else bummed by this? Build it somewhere else.

[Lawdog88]

With you Tolbert.

That sucks big time.

I'll sign a petition.

[vertigo0923]

no no no no no no no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they can't!!!!!!! it's such a beautiful campus, especially the old school. it's always been beautiful. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

[oragator1]

If there are no trees or open spaces left on campus, it loses it's charm. At some point they need to build up and not out, and that spot is the perfect welcome for the campus, a building sitting there would wreck that.

[vertigo0923]

its more than that even. it's beautiful, it's 'old florida', it's peaceful, and they need to leave it the f'k alone!!!!!

[BLING]

Sucks to lose green-space and mature trees - that is a pretty nice little area for business/finance/accounting students to hang. Are they taking down any actual historic buildings?

I can't say I'm too worried about losing that sign though. :laugh: Just the trees and shaded areas are a shame to lose.

[g8orbill]

time stands still for no one or no thing-while it is sad-obviously it is needed

[Row6]

I would normally be sympathetic to opposing such a move, but not sure on this one. In my experience that corner is not popular public hangout, and while the sign has been there a while it is pretty non-descript, serving mostly as a backdrop for Hare Krishnas and political protestors congregating on the sidewalk in front. The devil will be in the design and execution, and indeed now could be a nightmare. The sign with cute gators does not inspire confidence.

[PSGator66]

That sucks! I always liked that corner as an entrance to the campus.

[BobK89]

Used to see a lot of business majors sitting under the trees there eating Burrito Brothers (back when it was on 13th St.). Hate to see that go away.

[92gator]

its more than that even. it's beautiful, it's 'old florida', it's peaceful, and they need to leave it the f'k alone!!!!!

This.

[cocodrilo]

Next they should build an indoor practice facility on the Plaza of the Americas.

[rivergator]

I like seeing the trees and grass there at the signature corner of campus rather than a big brick wall.

[gatornana]

its more than that even. it's beautiful, it's 'old florida', it's peaceful, and they need to leave it the f'k alone!!!!!

Ditto! I can't believe they're doing this!

[brainstorm]

Totally sucks.

[gator923]

There will be a whole heckuva lot more development along University over the next decade.

There are plans in place to buy a ton more property east of 13th st as well. Where Santa Fe ends and UF begins is about to seamlessly blend together.

[northgagator]

Didn't use to show movies and put on concerts in that area?

[gatorev12]

Count me in the camp that thinks this is a bad idea. Florida has a massive campus with ample room for any construction needs and I see no need for a new building in that area.

[wgbgator]

Of course it had to be the business school that's doing this.

Not only does it suck, its a teachable example of $ vs. the enviroment. :)

[cocodrilo]

Isn't there a vacant lot now across the street (where Goering's Bookstore, Burrito Brothers etc. used to be)? Why not buy it and put their building there? Good for the environment too. Vacant lots are ugly.

[92gator]

Next they should build an indoor practice facility on the Plaza of the Americas.

...or putting a teflon roof over Florida Field.

[sappanama]

its more than that even. it's beautiful, it's 'old florida', it's peaceful, and they need to leave it the f'k alone!!!!!

i'm buying a lottery ticket because i 100% agree with verti on this.

[rampartgator]

....in the 1950's and went to UF in the late '60's and early '70's. I rarely return anymore because both the town and the campus are so different that I no longer recognize them.

This isn't a case of my opposing change, but rather opposing change at the cost of destruction of the past. Other Southern college towns--Oxford, Miss; UVA; Athens, Ga.; have managed to grow their campuses while preserving their heritage, and the consequence has been the creation of University communities which manage to preserve tradition while modernizing at the same time. As a result, the towns themselves have become attractions in addition to the universities which are located there.

But---not so with G'ville and UF, where the driving force seems to be to obliterate the past as much as possible. Downtown is full of surface parking lots where once there were sound 80 to 100 year old buildings, and what new construction has taken place is pure anywhere USA schlock. The gaping hole in the landscape across from UF where Goering's, etc., used to be is a prime example. What Gaineseville lacks and college towns sorely need are human-scale environments close to campus where people can gather and small, independent businesses can flourish. That was once true there, but that entire block was leveled based upon some grandiose plan which then fell apart, and now it is an open sore. That prime piece of real estate, at the most prominent intersection in town, looks exactly like a little slice of a warm-weather Detroit. Charming!

And now UF wants to wipe out one of the last remaining bits of green space in the old part of campus? Sad, but not surprising.

[MastaG8r]

I would normally be sympathetic to opposing such a move, but not sure on this one. In my experience that corner is not popular public hangout, and while the sign has been there a while it is pretty non-descript, serving mostly as a backdrop for Hare Krishnas and political protestors congregating on the sidewalk in front. The devil will be in the design and execution, and indeed now could be a nightmare. The sign with cute gators does not inspire confidence.I'm with you on this one. I have a feeling that some people posting in this thread are either not sure which corner is being talked about or they haven't been back to campus recently.

That whole corner is almost all filled in with buildings already. The "green space" we're talking about is not like any kind of parkish area where anybody hangs out. In fact it's not a big space at all. Just a small cluster of trees surrounded by bushes, with a base of dirt and mulch. There's no grass there.

I hope they do something nice aesthetically because it's the first view of the campus you encounter when approaching from the east. But in any event the development of that corner will not be any loss of green space worthy of lamenting.

[cocodrilo]

That intersection started going downhill when they replaced the SAE house (with the lion in front that people loved to paint) with a gas station.

[MastaG8r]

That intersection started going downhill when they replaced the SAE house (with the lion in front that people loved to paint) with a gas station.That gas station on the SE corner of University and 13th has the highest prices in Gainesville. Meanwhile I read somewhere that Gainesville has the highest gas prices in Florida. So if that's true then that station has the distinction of having the highest prices in the whole state. What an honor.

[RealDeal]

Isn't there a vacant lot now across the street (where Goering's Bookstore, Burrito Brothers etc. used to be)? Why not buy it and put their building there? Good for the environment too. Vacant lots are ugly.

university land--free
land across the street--very expensive

the university's broke--end of story

[secgator]

That sucks! I always liked that corner as an entrance to the campus.

This. Of all the places on campus to be considered an "entrance"--this one has always been THE entrance in my view.

This idea needs to be stopped. Petition can be found where?

[citygator]

"Heavily wooded?" Only if they planted 10 year old trees the year I was a freshman. Big state. Lots of woods other places in the county where they aren't educating 30,000 people.

[Tolbert1906]

I would normally be sympathetic to opposing such a move, but not sure on this one. In my experience that corner is not popular public hangout, and while the sign has been there a while it is pretty non-descript, serving mostly as a backdrop for Hare Krishnas and political protestors congregating on the sidewalk in front. The devil will be in the design and execution, and indeed now could be a nightmare. The sign with cute gators does not inspire confidence.I've never seen people hanging out there either, but that's not the point. It is the entryway into campus, one of the main corridors that is used every day. One of the nice things about campus is being able to walk through it and enjoy the surroundings. So what if no one hangs out there? I always just liked being able to walk through the Plaza of the Americas into the business courtyard and then through that corner of campus to Leonardo's, Burrito Bros, Maui Teriyaki, or wherever.

The building plans involve creating an entry plaza. I actually wouldn't mind it that much if they did spruce up that corner, even if it meant removing the UF sign. But plopping a big building right behind it would completely destroy the character of that whole area.

This is one of the few green spaces left in the Historic District. If they build here, it sets a bad precedent. It won't be long before they decide to build along the perimeter of the Plaza of the Americas. And then they'll decide they need to add more buildings. Before you know it, the only thing left of the Plaza will be a 5'x5' patch of grass (complete with historical marker).

"Heavily forested" was probably a bit extreme. But it is still a very quiet, scenic, natural area. I would disagree that it is just a "small cluster of trees" not worthy of lamenting. Try telling that to Auburn University. "Hey, it's just two trees."

[Tolbert1906]

Before you know it, the only thing left of the Plaza will be a 5'x5' patch of grass (complete with historical marker).
And this isn't even as ridiculous as it sounds. UF recently put up a historical marker for Old Benton Hall, which doesn't even exist anymore. :huh:
http://chalkboard.blogs.gainesville.com/2009/11/uf-building-that-was-razed-gets-historical-marker/
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/CreepingJeff/benton.jpg

Benton Hall was demolished. There was nothing really wrong with it other than it was small and needed some interior renovating. But it was demolished to make way for a larger, state-of-the-art, modern-looking building. This building became known as Grinter Hall:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/CreepingJeff/grinter.jpg

[RayGator]

....in the 1950's and went to UF in the late '60's and early '70's. I rarely return anymore because both the town and the campus are so different that I no longer recognize them.

This isn't a case of my opposing change, but rather opposing change at the cost of destruction of the past. Other Southern college towns--Oxford, Miss; UVA; Athens, Ga.; have managed to grow their campuses while preserving their heritage, and the consequence has been the creation of University communities which manage to preserve tradition while modernizing at the same time. As a result, the towns themselves have become attractions in addition to the universities which are located there.

But---not so with G'ville and UF, where the driving force seems to be to obliterate the past as much as possible. Downtown is full of surface parking lots where once there were sound 80 to 100 year old buildings, and what new construction has taken place is pure anywhere USA schlock. The gaping hole in the landscape across from UF where Goering's, etc., used to be is a prime example. What Gaineseville lacks and college towns sorely need are human-scale environments close to campus where people can gather and small, independent businesses can flourish. That was once true there, but that entire block was leveled based upon some grandiose plan which then fell apart, and now it is an open sore. That prime piece of real estate, at the most prominent intersection in town, looks exactly like a little slice of a warm-weather Detroit. Charming!

And now UF wants to wipe out one of the last remaining bits of green space in the old part of campus? Sad, but not surprising.

It just utterly burns me to no end what various UF administrations have done over the years to absolutely ruin what was once the beautiful old section of our beloved campus. Sadly, so many younger Gators now probably have no idea, unless they may see some pictures from the past, just how beautiful it once was. During my years at UF, 1961-62-63, you could stand near the Century Tower and look north through the beautiful Plaza of the Americas all the way to University Avenue and see the the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity house! The Plaza was absolutely beautiful back then. I was in the Gator Band back then and on Wednesday evenings in the Spring pf the year, we use to have outdoor concerts on the Plaza. A lot of people would show up, spread their blankets on the ground, have their snacks, and enjoy the concerts. Then a few years after I left UF some idiot jerk decided that the Library should be extended across and into the Plaza! That was the first ruining of the Plaza. Then over the years more buildings were placed on the Plaza. I didn't realize how bad it had become until April back in 2012. My fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, was holding a reunion for Fraters of the 1960s. One of the things we did was to take a walking tour of that part of the campus, the area of the old Plaza. Two present students were "tour guides" and they were absolutely super and patient. I was trying to explain to one them what it was like when the Plaza was wide open and beautiful. He couldn't fathom it.

Another thing that ruined the look of the old campus, was the road (forget the name right now) that went from the back (west side) of Tigert Hall, administration building, all the way down past the south side of Florida Field and continued west to Beta Woods, was chopped in half! Another absolute idiot decided to have another building placed right in the way of it. So what was once a long and beautiful drive through the UF campus was destroyed! Now our old part of the campus has such a chopped up, ugly look to it. It's sickening!

You know, when you visit other colleges that have been around for over 100 years, more often than not, they try and keep the beauty of their old campus in tact. Why we have had administrations through the decades that don't, I'll never understand. My older brother graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville VA. "Mr. Jefferson's academic village" as it's known there. You can believe that in this day and age Thomas Jefferson would recognize the old campus he designed there.

[rampartgator]

Well said, Ray. Aesthetic satisfaction is all about unity of design, and what unity of design UF's campus once had has been sliced and diced and stuffed full of oversize blah until it simply no longer exists. Does the campus even have a center, a focal point any longer? Not that I can find.

Last summer I visited relatives in Oxford, Mississippi. Granted that while Ole MIss is a much smaller university in terms of the number of its students, they have protected the core of their original master plan (Barnard Hall, the Ellipse, The Grove) while largely placing new construction on the edge of the campus. The entire campus is connected by a series of winding paths in which the view constantly changes as you round the next curve, making for an unfolding panaorama.

The result is a campus which rivals many Ivy League schools aesthetically, and whose overall layout serves the desirable purpose of bringing people together in a very natural way. The Grove, with its oval shape and huge, mature trees smack in the center of campus is a natural setting for everything from picnics to Shakespeare to Blues performances. In football season it accomodates one of college football's great scenes; can UF claim anything like that? Sadly, the answer is no.

[rampartgator]

Tolbert, thank you for the comparative photos of Benton Hall and Grinter Hall. Benton Hall was a beautiful example of what was once known as "Florida Gothic," with its balanced design, pointed arches and lots of glass. Grinter Hall looks like it came out of the 1960's era Soviet Union, all solid mass and utilitarian function. Why couldn't Benton have been put to some worthwhile adaptive resue, and Grinter Hall have been put somewhere else? There probably is no good answer to that question.


And this isn't even as ridiculous as it sounds. UF recently put up a historical marker for Old Benton Hall, which doesn't even exist anymore. :huh:
http://chalkboard.blogs.gainesville.com/2009/11/uf-building-that-was-razed-gets-historical-marker/
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/CreepingJeff/benton.jpg

Benton Hall was demolished. There was nothing really wrong with it other than it was small and needed some interior renovating. But it was demolished to make way for a larger, state-of-the-art, modern-looking building. This building became known as Grinter Hall:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/CreepingJeff/grinter.jpg

[wgbgator]

What happens when there are no more "noble Gothic walls" or "lovely vineclad halls?" Do they have to change the alma mater?

[cocodrilo]

When are they going to demolish the Century Tower? It stands there like a big sore thumb.

[egator1245]

When are they going to demolish the Century Tower? It stands there like a big sore thumb.

When enough virgins walk by at the same time it will be gone!

[WESGATORS]

I disagree with the majority here. For one thing, while the old buildings may be pretty to look at, most of them are inefficient and not so pleasant on the inside. Beauty is clearly in the eye of the beholder, but I find the newer versions much better than the older versions. Most of the expansions on campus over the past 20 years are improvements from my perspective. I don't see any reason to expect that this won't be done properly as well. As for the trees, they're going to be planting more than they take down, and has had already been mentioned, it's not exactly a popular hangout spot on campus. I'd hardly consider it an "entrance" as much as it is a "back door."

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS

[Swampmaster]

Idea: retractable roof over the plaza of the americas in case of rain, cold, etc!

[MichiGator2002]

It makes me happy in retrospect that I loved in the Murphree area for almost all my undergrad, including Thomas, Murphree, and Fletcher. The day they come for the Murph, I will raise an army.

[Gatorrick22]

Next they should build an indoor practice facility on the Plaza of the Americas.

Is that the proposed site for it?

[gator923]

university land--free
land across the street--very expensive

the university's broke--end of story

To the contrary, the plans for this building have been in place over 6 years, only recently has the funding been appropriated.

Beyond that, UF is about to execute a land grab in east gainesville.

I went by that corner while I was in town this weekend, it's going to look fantastic when it's finished.

[Tolbert1906]

Tolbert, thank you for the comparative photos of Benton Hall and Grinter Hall. Benton Hall was a beautiful example of what was once known as "Florida Gothic," with its balanced design, pointed arches and lots of glass. Grinter Hall looks like it came out of the 1960's era Soviet Union, all solid mass and utilitarian function. Why couldn't Benton have been put to some worthwhile adaptive resue, and Grinter Hall have been put somewhere else? There probably is no good answer to that question.You're quite welcome. If you want to see more historic photos of UF, this site has tons of them:
http://ufdc.ufl.edu/?g=foto

Just type in anything, like "aerial view" for instance. A lot of old campus photos will pop up.

[Tolbert1906]

more press:
http://www.wcjb.com/local-news/2013/01/uf-cuts-trees-new-building-promises-replace-them

[HALLGATOR]

Didn't use to show movies and put on concerts in that area?

I believe that was where they had a free concert with Michael Martin Murphy in the early seventies. He was doing Geronimo's Cadillac and a storm came up.

[northgagator]

I believe that was where they had a free concert with Michael Martin Murphy in the early seventies. He was doing Geronimo's Cadillac and a storm came up.

In 1975, I went back to Gainesville to see the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Great concert that went on for hours. I believe it was in that location.

[Tolbert1906]

It has started. No going back now.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20130509/ARTICLES/130509580

[neisgator]

Best part of campus....will now be wrecked

Great

[Tolbert1906]

Best part of campus....will now be wrecked

Greatalready wrecked. trees are gone. but at least now you have a nice, clear view of that ugly church and empty lot across the street.

[RayGator]

It just utterly burns me to no end what various UF administrations have done over the years to absolutely ruin what was once the beautiful old section of our beloved campus. Sadly, so many younger Gators now probably have no idea, unless they may see some pictures from the past, just how beautiful it once was. During my years at UF, 1961-62-63, you could stand near the Century Tower and look north through the beautiful Plaza of the Americas all the way to University Avenue and see the the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity house! The Plaza was absolutely beautiful back then. I was in the Gator Band back then and on Wednesday evenings in the Spring pf the year, we use to have outdoor concerts on the Plaza. A lot of people would show up, spread their blankets on the ground, have their snacks, and enjoy the concerts. Then a few years after I left UF some idiot jerk decided that the Library should be extended across and into the Plaza! That was the first ruining of the Plaza. Then over the years more buildings were placed on the Plaza. I didn't realize how bad it had become until April back in 2012. My fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon, was holding a reunion for Fraters of the 1960s. One of the things we did was to take a walking tour of that part of the campus, the area of the old Plaza. Two present students were "tour guides" and they were absolutely super and patient. I was trying to explain to one them what it was like when the Plaza was wide open and beautiful. He couldn't fathom it.

Another thing that ruined the look of the old campus, was the road (forget the name right now) that went from the back (west side) of Tigert Hall, administration building, all the way down past the south side of Florida Field and continued west to Beta Woods, was chopped in half! Another absolute idiot decided to have another building placed right in the way of it. So what was once a long and beautiful drive through the UF campus was destroyed! Now our old part of the campus has such a chopped up, ugly look to it. It's sickening!

You know, when you visit other colleges that have been around for over 100 years, more often than not, they try and keep the beauty of their old campus in tact. Why we have had administrations through the decades that don't, I'll never understand. My older brother graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville VA. "Mr. Jefferson's academic village" as it's known there. You can believe that in this day and age Thomas Jefferson would recognize the old campus he designed there.

Just repeating what I posted last February.

[warhorsegator]

I also have a degree from St Andrews in Scotland. UF could learn from St Andrews re preservation in creating new academic spaces. When you walk through the town, you see old buildings, sometimes 300 years old that look the same on the outside, but inside have modern teaching equipment and space.

Surprised that a flagship -- at least aspiring when it comes to asking for money -- does not lead the way in smart, efficient preservation of the past.

[Itssaul]

Probably due to the low traffic in the area. Literally one of the emptiest places on campus.

It sure does suck. However, new buildings, better academic programs, more money, it's all UF's step ladder to being what it wants to be.

Also being knocked down is the parking lot by the Chem buildings in front of "the swamp" restaurant. Well not knocked down but built over.

[CHFG8R]

If there are no trees or open spaces left on campus, it loses it's charm. At some point they need to build up and not out, and that spot is the perfect welcome for the campus, a building sitting there would wreck that.

No trees = USF or UCF. Don't want to go that route, IMO, as those are just some dreadful campuses from an aesthetic standpoint.

[PSGator66]

I loved that section of campus - it had a cool personality. They need to keep those old gotham styled buildings.

[MichaelJoeWilliamson]

university land--free
land across the street--very expensive

the university's broke--end of story

Did you know that the University owns a great deal of the properties just east of 13th? And has exclusive right of refusal for the others?

Yep.

[Tolbert1906]

Surprised that a flagship -- at least aspiring when it comes to asking for money -- does not lead the way in smart, efficient preservation of the past.Florida State actually does a much better job than Florida at preserving their historic sites and buildings. Even their new buildings are designed in the Gothic style to blend in better with their older buildings and create a more uniform look. Have you seen the designs for the new Chemistry building that UF is going to build? It's going to be a "contemporary" Gothic building that is supposed to blend in with the surrounding historic buildings. The design is terrible. It's going to look ridiculous standing adjacent to Keene-Flint Hall, one of the nicest buildings on campus. And the new Reitz Union addition is so ugly it makes me cringe.

[WESGATORS]

Florida State actually does a much better job than Florida at preserving their historic sites and buildings. Even their new buildings are designed in the Gothic style to blend in better with their older buildings and create a more uniform look. Have you seen the designs for the new Chemistry building that UF is going to build? It's going to be a "contemporary" Gothic building that is supposed to blend in with the surrounding historic buildings. The design is terrible. It's going to look ridiculous standing adjacent to Keene-Flint Hall, one of the nicest buildings on campus. And the new Reitz Union addition is so ugly it makes me cringe.

I respectfully disagree. Love the newer buildings in comparison to the older buildings. Places like Keene-Flint, Griffin-Floyd, and Tigert all look neat on the outside, but the inside is outdated in places where they haven't been modernized (and sometimes pretty disgusting and certainly inefficient). Give me an Emerson Alumni Hall over a Keene-Flint Hall any day of the week. Had many classes in the older buildings, and they were all a facade on the outside with an outdated interior. Just seems fake to me. Old school looks good in the pictures, but give me the modern buildings for practical purposes and better functionality.

Go GATORS!
,WESGATORS