National Historic Landmarks, World Heritage Sites, and the American University Campus in the Twenty-First Century: The Challenge of Growth

For the past fifteen years, universities throughout the United States have experienced unprecedented physical growth due to a burgeoning student population and evermore emphasis on producing important scientific research. On campuses that have significant architectural and historic resources, including National Historic Landmarks and World Heritage sites, the presence of these landmarks has significantly impacted the direction of physical growth. Likewise, as campuses attempt to connect all of their buildings through extensive infrastructure networks, these important landmarks have been adversely affected. This chapter will describe how university campus growth affects significant historic resources and address the challenges encountered by university administrations in using and preserving these significant landmarks, which, in essence, define their schools to the public.