OT: Rutgers Plans to Demolish Ford Hall

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Posted on the Rutgers Issues board, but that gets a fairly small crowd.

After letting Ford Hall sit empty and un-maintained for years, constantly moving through different plans to renovate it for usage, the University has decided to demolish an important part of the University's History. Sign here to help those trying to save Ford Hall:

https://www.change.org/p/rutgers-university-save-ford-hall-at-rutgers-university

Find out more here:

https://www.facebook.com/Save-Ford-Hall-at-Rutgers-2101205510111355/

Some of you may know that I strongly believe that Rutgers should have an Alumni Center on par with our Big Ten peers; the alumni associations and other organizations on campus NEED more true event space. Yes, they've been "planning" a conference center on Livingston, but I don't see that going anywhere fast. This would be a great way to create a uniquely Rutgers space in the heart of campus.
Just as a personal idea, I'd like to know your thoughts:

UMD's alumni center is a great aspirational peer

https://riggs.umd.edu/

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Ford Hall is not a particular architectural gem. For me, its history is tied up with the mine shafts below it. I'd like to see them demolish it in such a away as to be able to instigate those mine shafts that might remain.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

1) the place was a dump IIRC, and unused, but what's so "important" about it in regards to our history (EDIT: GOT THE ANSWER). Thanks.

2) what is going there, per plan, otherwise?

3) would love a facility similar to Riggs that "fits" with the architecture of that area (other than Scott Hall, IIRC)

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Ford Hall is not a particular architectural gem. For me, its history is tied up with the mine shafts below it. I'd like to see them demolish it in such a away as to be able to instigate those mine shafts that might remain.

ahhhh that's right thanks!

 

[Plum Street]

Never heard of it . Implode that thing .

 

[HeyHuey]

Make way for Project 2030. Put a plaque on the ground as a memorial. Place a photo history of it somewhere appropriate and build out the new Rutgers. .

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

1) the place was a dump IIRC, and unused, but what's so "important" about it in regards to our history (EDIT: GOT THE ANSWER). Thanks.

2) what is going there, per plan, otherwise?

3) would love a facility similar to Riggs that "fits" with the architecture of that area (other than Scott Hall, IIRC)

Make way for Project 2030. Put a plaque on the ground as a memorial. Place a photo history of it somewhere appropriate and build out the new Rutgers. .

There is, to my knowledge, currently no plan for it and Voorhees mall isn't in the 2030. They just want us to "trust them" to build something nice sometime later. Which the university has a mixed record of providing.

 

[Block R]

I’d prefer Rutgers demolish Seton Hall instead.

 

[FastMJ]

Scott Hall is an eye sore. Blow that one up please

 

[HeyHuey]

I'm looking at 2030 on slide 32 of 336 and it lists "Ford Hall Renovation" under Key Projects.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

I'm looking at 2030 on slide 32 of 336 and it lists "Ford Hall Renovation" under Key Projects.

Yeah, they changed their mind on that, hence the petition.

 

[HeyHuey]

Yeah, they changed their mind on that, hence the petition.

Booooo!.....sorry.

 

[rc64]

Scott Hall is an eye sore. Blow that one up please

For a few years after it was built and before it was named Scott Hall, it was called General Classroom building. A Targum writer classmate of mine wrote that the building was named for an important alumnus whose last name was Classroom and who, after he graduated, had a distinguished military career.

 

[RUSK97]

Ummm...mine shafts beneath the building? What’s the history there?

 

[ATIOH]

I’d prefer Rutgers demolish Seton Hall instead.

 

[bac2therac]

not sure I know what building this is...pics anyone

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

not sure I know what building this is...pics anyone

Rutgers Second Dormitory, on the corner of Seminary and College Ave, built in 1914.

 

[Leonard23]

not sure I know what building this is...pics anyone

It's on the corner of Seminary Pl and College Ave:

http://ruoncampus.rutgers.edu/ford/

I'm surprised they're tearing it down instead of renovating. Hopefully, they build something nice there.

 

[czxqa]

If you want to save it, get it put on the National Register of Historic Places.
Here's the wikipedia entry on the architect, Bertram Goodhue. He designed a lot of significant buildings. Destroying his work is pretty shameful. So much of historic New Brunswick has been torn down and destroyed already.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Goodhue

 

[RUseaweed]

If people want to preserve it, pony up the money to renovate it. Otherwise, they're just complaining with no resolution possible. Having an empty building sitting in the heart of campus does absolutely no demonstrable good for anyone. Holding on to a building just because it's old does not make any sense.

 

[Block R]

If you want to save it, get it put on the National Register of Historic Places.
Here's the wikipedia entry on the architect, Bertram Goodhue. He designed a lot of significant buildings. Destroying his work is pretty shameful. So much of historic New Brunswick has been torn down and destroyed already.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Goodhue

Yeah, they changed their mind on that, hence the petition.

Sincere question: what’s special about Ford Hall, other than evidently a famous architect designed it? I’m by no means an expert but from the pictures of the outside I’m not seeing anything that sticks out to me. Apparently the Rutgers admin feels the same or it wouldn’t be slated for demo. What are we missing?

 

[rutgersal]

Ford Hall, Scott Hall, and the Barn all need to be demolished.

 

[rutgersal]

Ford Hall, Scott Hall, and the Barn all need to be demolished.

 

[sct1111]

Ford Hall, Scott Hall, and the Barn all need to be demolished.

Ford Hall and Scott Hall? Yeah. The Barn? Hell no. The College Ave Gym has fantastic architecture. They do have plans to demolish the annex and put an addition on the back to turn it into a state of the art fitness center/health center.

 

[theRU]

Yeah, sorry not signing. We need to modernize and make better use of our facilities and not continually slap lipstick on pigs and pay high maintenance cost for something that isn't being utilized... maybe if there was a way to use or keep a facade while expanding? But not looking to create another headache for the school over this one.

 

[sct1111]

If there is any building that needs a renovation it's NJ Hall.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

If people want to preserve it, pony up the money to renovate it. Otherwise, they're just complaining with no resolution possible. Having an empty building sitting in the heart of campus does absolutely no demonstrable good for anyone. Holding on to a building just because it's old does not make any sense.

Yeah, sorry not signing. We need to modernize and make better use of our facilities and not continually slap lipstick on pigs and pay high maintenance cost for something that isn't being utilized... maybe if there was a way to use or keep a facade while expanding? But not looking to create another headache for the school over this one.

Personally, I agree, hence my suggestion to use it as a building block for a new alumni center like what our Big Ten peers have. As a building on its own, Ford Hall is underwhelming but steeped in history. It's where my Grandfather lived when he attended. If it's not being utilized, then there's no reason to have it there, but old buildings are perfectly capable of supporting modern spaces. Winants Hall has just gone through its second renovation in 30 years, we still use Old Queens, Van Nest is being renovated, we still use Van Dyke, Voorhees Hall\Art library, etc.

Just keeping it's useless. But making it a part of something new is worthwhile imo. We're the eighth oldest school in the country, and we insist on tearing down our own history.

 

[rutgersal]

Ford Hall, Scott Hall, the RAC, and the Barn all need to be demolished. These facilities are long past their prime and do not create positive impressions for recruits and prospective students, especially when we compare with peer institutions like Penn State and Maryland.
Replacements should be consistent with Rutgers architectural character.

While we're at it, build a new fraternity row, where recognized fraternities will need to reside. If you've been to PSU, Maryland, and Cornell, you realize how dumpy our fraternity houses are, and it hurts recruiting fraternity legacies. Use Marylands policy of leasing residences to students who are fraternity members. Houses should be uniform, like at Maryland, so that you don't have a class of fraternity haves and have fraternity have nots.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Ford Hall, Scott Hall, the RAC, and the Barn all need to be demolished. These facilities are long past their prime and do not create positive impressions for recruits and prospective students, especially when we compare with peer institutions like Penn State and Maryland.
Replacements should be consistent with Rutgers architectural character.

While we're at it, build a new fraternity row, where recognized fraternities will need to reside. If you've been to PSU, Maryland, and Cornell, you realize how dumpy our fraternity houses are, and it hurts recruiting fraternity legacies. Use Marylands policy of leasing residences to students who are fraternity members. Houses should be uniform, like at Maryland, so that you don't have a class of fraternity haves and have fraternity have nots.

Scott Hall's not a bad classroom space honestly. The architecture sucks, but as classroom space goes it's better than numerous other spots I could name. (Hickman upstairs, the River Dorms...the river dorm bathrooms are practically horror movie set-pieces.) You're way off on the RAC and the Barn IMO. We're already replacing the Barn for recruiting and prospective students don't go into it for gyms. That's also another place that can be easily renovated. The RAC is an argument for another time and another thread.

As for a new fraternity row...yeah, that's unlikely. If you think the U is going to invest in that, you're not reading the pulse of the campus conversation very well RE: Greek life.

 

[bac2therac]

it doesnt look all that bad..why the hate

yes Scott Hall should go but I dont see it the hate with Ford...

 

[bac2therac]

is the Reserved Reading room..roost gone too? Loved that place

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

is the Reserved Reading room..roost gone too? Loved that place

Gonna be honest, have no idea what you're referring to. Pics/location?

 

[T2Kplus10]

The list of buildings that RU needs to demo begins with Beck Hall.

 

[RUseaweed]

but old buildings are perfectly capable of supporting modern spaces. Winants Hall has just gone through its second renovation in 30 years, we still use Old Queens, Van Nest is being renovated, we still use Van Dyke, Voorhees Hall\Art library, etc.

All of that's great if there's money to pay for the renovation. If the administration has decided that it is too expensive to retrofit the building and no one else is willing to make up the delta, the answer should not be "just let it continue to sit there". If the administration has identified funds to build on the existing land that will not cost as much to maintain in the long run, then start moving earth tomorrow.

We're the eighth oldest school in the country, and we insist on tearing down our own history.

How is keeping a building that is over 150 years newer than the founding of the university tied to preserving our "old" status? I agree we should move heaven and earth to preserve Winants and a couple of truly historic buildings, and I bet if there were a fundraiser people would come out of the wood work to preserve those buildings. But something that's in the center of campus and not particularly remarkable? Meh.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Ford Hall, Scott Hall, the RAC, and the Barn all need to be demolished. These facilities are long past their prime and do not create positive impressions for recruits and prospective students, especially when we compare with peer institutions like Penn State and Maryland.
Replacements should be consistent with Rutgers architectural character.

While we're at it, build a new fraternity row, where recognized fraternities will need to reside. If you've been to PSU, Maryland, and Cornell, you realize how dumpy our fraternity houses are, and it hurts recruiting fraternity legacies. Use Marylands policy of leasing residences to students who are fraternity members. Houses should be uniform, like at Maryland, so that you don't have a class of fraternity haves and have fraternity have nots.

1) The Barn is going nowhere NOR should it

2) THE RAC Is going nowhere NOR should it

3) The original plans for campus expansion drawn back in the 70s had the school with about 70,000 students by the year 2000 and that included a huge area on Livingston that was going to be fraternity and sorority “Row.” All the houses would’ve been identical, like in Maryland, so as to not cause any friction or anything like that. Unfortunately that never happened. Never will now either, to be honest, so you can forget that idea as well.

 

[rutgersal]

Ford Hall and Scott Hall? Yeah. The Barn? Hell no. The College Ave Gym has fantastic architecture. They do have plans to demolish the annex and put an addition on the back to turn it into a state of the art fitness center/health center.

You can completely gut the inside while retaining its facade or you can demolish everything and replicate its architecture. The facility is not competitive with peer institutions and needs to be state of the art.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

All of that's great if there's money to pay for the renovation. If the administration has decided that it is too expensive to retrofit the building and no one else is willing to make up the delta, the answer should not be "just let it continue to sit there". If the administration has identified funds to build on the existing land that will not cost as much to maintain in the long run, then start moving earth tomorrow.

How does keeping a building that is over 150 years newer than the founding of the university tied to preserving our "old" status? I agree we should move heaven and earth to preserve Winants and a couple of truly historic buildings, and I bet if there were a fundraiser people would come out of the wood work to preserve those buildings. But something that's in the center of campus and not particularly remarkable? Meh.

To my knowledge, administration hasn't even tried to reach out about this building. They rarely do, they just reach out about new things. Maintenance at Rutgers is a topic I can spend a long time airing grievances about, trust me.

As for how it helps preserve our old status, it may have opened 134 years after Rutgers, but Old Queens didn't even open until at least 30 years after the charter was signed. (28 after classes started). We're not a school that expanded quickly, so believe it or not the early 1900s buildings on Voorhees mall are a part of that old school heritage. Winants Hall is only 24 years older than Ford, and Murray Hall is only 5 years older. (Although both buildings are significantly nicer in architecture, I agree.)

Again, I'd like to see this building utilized, not demolished. That doesn't mean using it as yet another ill-fitted office building, or as a waste of a dorm space.

 

[czxqa]

Sincere question: what’s special about Ford Hall, other than evidently a famous architect designed it? I’m by no means an expert but from the pictures of the outside I’m not seeing anything that sticks out to me. Apparently the Rutgers admin feels the same or it wouldn’t be slated for demo. What are we missing?

It's an original brick Colonial Revival building right on College Ave that has the kind of architectural details that are never added to modern construction projects, and fits perfectly in with the character of the original campus. one by one, these old original buildings are being destroyed and trendy crap built in its place. That's why we're stuck with 60's monstrosities like Scott Hall, Brower Commons, the Student Center, Records Hall and more, and now are building more newfangled crap in the style of the time. You don't see them doing this at Princeton.

 

[BOGDANOVICH]

Scott Hall, the River dorms, Records Hall are all monstrously ugly, and Ford Hall is not much better. They all should be demolished. But they won't be. Rutgers has talked about replacing the River dorms and Records Hall since the 1960s, yet all this ugliness is still there. No money must be the problem. Princeton does not have this problem.

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

Ummm...mine shafts beneath the building? What’s the history there?

Ever wonder why Mine Street is named "Mine Street"?

Copper mine.