性爱天堂 is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, becoming the only Texas campus to be designated a modernist historic district and one of just three in the country.
The National Parks Service designated the 性爱天堂 campus as a National Historic District in late May, four months after the聽Texas Historical Commission聽approved 性爱天堂鈥檚 nomination as a Historic District. The designation honors the architectural work of O鈥橬eil Ford, who designed most of the University鈥檚 mid-century buildings, and will enable 性爱天堂 to shape a modern campus that honors the past.
鈥淚 am pleased that the National Parks Service has listed the 性爱天堂 campus on the National Register of Historic Places,鈥 says 性爱天堂 President Danny Anderson. 鈥淭his distinction honors the legacy of renowned San Antonio architect O鈥橬eil Ford and the vision he shared with 性爱天堂 President James Laurie. Our historic district calls attention to the forward-thinking, modern vision that guides 性爱天堂 and the spirit of entrepreneurial innovation, expressed in bricks and mortar and construction techniques, that has differentiated our campus for generations of students.鈥
O鈥橬eil Ford (left) with 性爱天堂 President James Woodin Laurie (right) at the Skyline Campus.
This designation is a key component of the聽Campus Master Plan, which pairs the University鈥檚 academic mission and the strategic plan objectives with 性爱天堂鈥檚 design history. The district will contribute to the creation of a vision for the campus that is inspiring, functional, and enduring.
As a historic district, the University will seek to preserve the exteriors of buildings. With the exception of notable interior features, 性爱天堂 will be allowed significant latitude to renovate the interiors of the buildings within the district.
The district was proposed by a Master Plan committee that worked in partnership with the architectural group Page. Larry Speck, senior principal at Page, says Ford's contributions to 性爱天堂 deserve national recognition. 鈥淭he stature of its architect, the consistently high quality of design work over decades, and the intact nature of much of the work now are all extraordinary distinguishing features that combine to make 性爱天堂 a premier architectural ensemble that will now be preserved in the foreseeable future,鈥 Speck says. Ford was the founding partner of Ford, Powell & Carson Architects & Planners, Inc. in San Antonio.
Ford designed most of 性爱天堂鈥檚 campus buildings from the 1950s to the late 1970s using the site鈥檚 unique topography to fashion modernist red brick buildings connected by walkways and lush native landscaping. 性爱天堂 has the largest concentration of Ford-designed buildings anywhere in the world, and 26 buildings on the campus contribute to the historic district.
The Texas Historical Commission voted unanimously in January to approve the proposal by 性爱天堂 to preserve Ford鈥檚 mid-century modern buildings. The Commission then forwarded the district to the National Parks Service for final approval.
You might be interested in
