A look back at College Ave Campus compared to now

[sct1111]

This muckgers article is great. It looks back at what the College Ave campus used to look like and lets you get a look side to side of the way it looks now.

Link 1
Link 2

Thoughts:

Some of the things they did with these buildings really makes me scratch my head.

The Theological Seminary really messed up when they decided to demolish Hertzog Hall. That building looked like it could have been the second signature building on campus. The stupid dixie cup structure they decided to build in it's place is already gone. What a waste. The whole seminary complex was pretty cool back then and had awesome architecture. I wish Rutgers bought it out years ago before they decided to knock all those classic buildings down. It definitely would have added to the ivy-like feel of college ave.

Speaking of ivy, where did it all go? There are some buildings that would look great with ivy. NJ hall is definitely one of them, Milledoler, Van Nest, Geology Hall, hell even graduate school of education could use ivy to cover up it's hideousness.

Why can't they put central air in Old Queens? The window units kind of ruin its facade.

It's a shame the Balantine Gym burnt down but why did they turn it's remains, the Zimmerli Art Museum, and Vorhees hall into that Frankenstein of a building? Vorhees Hall used to be a very pretty building, but they way they connected it and modified it with the other buildings really ruined its look. Why did they fill in some of the windows with concrete? That looks terrible. New Jersey Hall also has some of its windows filled in. I just think it looks so stupid. Just put some windows back in there. NJ Hall could definitely use being restored and cleaned. It's such a potential beautiful building if Rutgers would only take care of it.

I still love Murray Hall. It seems like it's always been beautiful. I hope they don't ruin it.

I hate Brower Commons. It's always been ugly. The architecture is just terrible. I really hope they plan to knock it down and build the dining hall that College Ave deserves along with a proper Rutgers Student Center.

 

[BoroKnight]

I loved looking at those pictures. Seeing how Rutgers -- and New Brunswick, for that matter -- changed sometimes is sad. Partly for what was lost, and partly for what we still have. :)

But Rutgers has a unique history among American universities, and I've always been proud of it.

Totally agree about Hertzog. What a crime. And bring back the ivy indeed.

Now let's do something about some of those ugly buildings ...

 

[Saint Puppy]

Yeah - I liked seeing those pix too. Rutgers has a sentimental place in my heart for a variety of reasons - and always will. There is definitely a charm to it. I guess I agree about Brower - if I saw that for the first time I would think 'what an ugly structure to have right in the middle of such a signature part of the campus'.

Completely agree about the student center - they just seem to utilize the space worse and worse as time goes on. I can't believe after all these years they still can't get the Lion's Den downstairs right. They took out the pool hall, candy shop and arcade over the years (and I'm probably missing a bunch of others)....this is a STUDENT Center that looks less and less like one over the 25 years that I've seen it. I don't know if they just need to knock it down from the outside or inside or both, but PLEASE somebody with some creativity and a sense of fun needs to get there ASAP!!!!

 

[RU MAN]

Thanks SCT1111 for the links. It brings back a lot of memories. Thank god, Zwemer is gone. That building was butt ugly. Also, the 1960's architecture not only was hideous but looks so out of place with the older buildings.

I too love the ivy and miss it, although I'm told that the ivy eventually destroys the mortar and the bricks, but it looked so good.

 

[RUnTeX]

Yeah, this muckgers compilation is a nice reflection back on Rutgers history. It was previously linked and discussed on this board back in the May timeframe, around the time it was created. The thread is probably buried further down now.

 

[RUKeystone]

One of my family friends is the author of the article. Very cool read.

 

[Scarlet Craig]

If you ask me, both Seminary buildings were pretty fugly. Glad we are getting the new RU building there.

 

[sct1111]

Originally posted by Scarlet Craig:
If you ask me, both Seminary buildings were pretty fugly. Glad we are getting the new RU building there.

I wasn't talking about the monstrosities they built in the 60s, I'm extremely glad to see them go. The buildings that were there before, especially Hertzog Hall, were as charming as the Old Queens' campus and could have really added to the classic appearance of College Avenue as our historical campus. The new buildings are going to be cool but I can't help but think that Rutgers lost some of it's historical treasures with the demolition of those buildings in the 60s.

What the hell were architects thinking in the 60s anyway? Why would they demolish an architectural treasure for a giant dixie cup?

 

[rufancoe00]

The reason for the lack of ivy is that it destroys the mortar and bricks

 

[sct1111]

Originally posted by rufancoe00:
The reason for the lack of ivy is that it destroys the mortar and bricks

Not according to this

 

[RU MAN]

Originally posted by sct1111:

Originally posted by rufancoe00:
The reason for the lack of ivy is that it destroys the mortar and bricks

Not according to this

Well, according to the article, the ivy works as a barrier shield to protect the bricks and mortar rather than destroying it. It also keeps the pollutants out and works as a thermal barrier in the winter and cools the building in the summer. If this is really true and I don't see why it isn't, then I say bring the ivy back now!

 

[Terry_2426]

This was really cool to look back on. A few of us always wanted to see a "signature" type building at Rutgers when we were there....Hertzog Hall was exactly that, what the hell were they thinking?

 

[Upstream]

Hertzog Hall was in serious disrepair, and the Seminary thought it would be cheaper to build a new building instead of repairing and expanding Hertzog.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

 

[derleider]

Originally posted by Upstream:
Hertzog Hall was in serious disrepair, and the Seminary thought it would be cheaper to build a new building instead of repairing and expanding Hertzog.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

That was probably true. And of course the 1960s were kind of the height of hideous modernist buildings.

 

[sct1111]

Originally posted by Upstream:
Hertzog Hall was in serious disrepair, and the Seminary thought it would be cheaper to build a new building instead of repairing and expanding Hertzog.
Posted from Rivals Mobile

That's such a shame! There also used to be a beautiful Victorian mansion on the corner of Hamilton and College Ave where the Grease Trucks used to be. It breaks my heart to see them put up ugly apartment buildings with no character around college ave, especially on Union Street! New Brunswick is such an old city, but it doesn't have a whole lot left of that old classical charm besides a few buildings here and there. The University should have done something and build brand new Fraternity houses on Union almost like how University of Maryland has them all on one cul de sac.