Bronx Community College / Heritage Landscapes

Bronx Community College
Bronx, New York

The former New York University Campus, now Bronx Community College , was developed in 1892-1896 under plans by McKim, Mead and White, Architects. In researching the campus landscape history, Heritage Landscapes located an 1894 design plan by Calvert Vaux and discovered an Olmsted connection. While the Vaux plan was preliminary and not implemented, from 1912 to the 1920s a series of proposals, plans and correspondence by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., Olmsted Brothers Landscape Architects, and Frank Miles Day, Day & Klauder Architects, influenced the core campus evolution. The Bronx Community College Historic Core Campus Cultural Landscape Report & Conservation Treatment Plan is a part of the Stanford White Complex Conservation Master Plan, funded by a Getty Historic Campus Preservation Grant.

For this cultural landscape report Heritage Landscapes focused on the historic core campus and historic grounds that provide a setting for the Stanford White complex, to include the Gould Memorial Library, Philosophy Hall, Language Hall and the Hall of Fame, an elaborate arcade lined with sculptures of historic figures. This preservation planning effort is based in campus landscape stewardship of the character and qualities of the historic campus core while incorporating contemporary issues and functionalities. Documenting and assessing the existing conditions revealed change and loss of historic campus landscape character and features. Interviews highlighted current landscape maintenance operations so that recommendations could address greater efficiencies. Heritage Landscapes explored approaches to landscape preservation treatment, and working with the client group selected the most appropriate landscape treatment alternatives. Heritage Landscapes developed landscape treatment illustrative graphics to portray the proposals. Campus leadership values the completed CLR as a resource and a tool for directing change. This historic campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a local New York City Landmark.

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Client:
Bronx Community College , City University of New York

Project:
Bronx Community College Historic Core Campus Cultural Landscape Report & Conservation Treatment Plan for the Getty-funded Conservation Master Plan, 2005.

Project Credits:
Heritage Landscapes, Preservation Landscape Architects, Easton Architects, LLP, team leader, with a multi-disciplinary team of building conservation specialists.