2008 Woodie Awards
MU receives grant to preserve historic buildings on campus
Drew T. Dorner
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: Campus
With the campus nearing its 200th birthday, Miami University has on its grounds several historic buildings, and with a recent $90,000 grant from the J. Paul Getty Trust, the buildings may be ready for another 200 years.
In June, Miami was awarded $90,000 geared toward maintaining and preserving both the structures and the legacies of the university's oldest facilities.
"American colleges and universities are frequently unique repositories of some of the country's finest historic architecture and designed landscapes," Getty Foundation Director Deborah Marrow said. "While other buildings may have had a variety of owners and uses over the years, campus buildings have for the most part remained under the same stewardship, which presents wonderful opportunities for preservation and education."
Miami's share of the $2 million given by the foundation to 15 colleges around the country has been allocated toward the hiring of a consultant and a university-wide historical preservation plan. The plan is designed to advise university officials on historically significant buildings and open spaces as well as to teach the public about Miami history, according to McGuffey Museum Curator Stephen Gordon.
Gordon said the consultant has not yet been selected, but is expected to be hired by October.
Gordon added that the grant money is not meant for the more-traditional repair and maintenance of Miami buildings, but rather education and awareness.
"There are a lot of facets to historical preservation," he said. "You have technical preservation, which deals with caring for the actual buildings; the scholarly side, which is not specifically interested in caring for the properties; and you have the educational component."
Gordon said this project is more about gathering information than it is about actual construction.
"This project will be a little heavier on the research and information side and not as much on technical preservation," he said. "The education is something that will hopefully instill in the students, as well as for the administration and residents of the community, knowledge of the history of this campus."
In June, Miami was awarded $90,000 geared toward maintaining and preserving both the structures and the legacies of the university's oldest facilities.
"American colleges and universities are frequently unique repositories of some of the country's finest historic architecture and designed landscapes," Getty Foundation Director Deborah Marrow said. "While other buildings may have had a variety of owners and uses over the years, campus buildings have for the most part remained under the same stewardship, which presents wonderful opportunities for preservation and education."
Miami's share of the $2 million given by the foundation to 15 colleges around the country has been allocated toward the hiring of a consultant and a university-wide historical preservation plan. The plan is designed to advise university officials on historically significant buildings and open spaces as well as to teach the public about Miami history, according to McGuffey Museum Curator Stephen Gordon.
Gordon said the consultant has not yet been selected, but is expected to be hired by October.
Gordon added that the grant money is not meant for the more-traditional repair and maintenance of Miami buildings, but rather education and awareness.
"There are a lot of facets to historical preservation," he said. "You have technical preservation, which deals with caring for the actual buildings; the scholarly side, which is not specifically interested in caring for the properties; and you have the educational component."
Gordon said this project is more about gathering information than it is about actual construction.
"This project will be a little heavier on the research and information side and not as much on technical preservation," he said. "The education is something that will hopefully instill in the students, as well as for the administration and residents of the community, knowledge of the history of this campus."
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