Historic Section of UF Campus to be Torn Up

[Gatorrick22]

Originally Posted by cocodrilo

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

Is that the proposed site for it?

[gator923]

Originally Posted by RealDeal

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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/...s-replace-them

[HALLGATOR]

Originally Posted by northgagator

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]

Originally Posted by HALLGATOR

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/2...CLES/130509580

[neisgator]

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

Great

[Tolbert1906]

Originally Posted by neisgator

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

Great

already 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]

Originally Posted by 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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by RealDeal

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]

Originally Posted by warhorsegator

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]

Originally Posted by Tolbert1906

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