Chartered in 1766 as one of the nine original Colonial Colleges, the Rutgers campuses distinguish themselves as vestiges of a colonial college, land grant institution, agricultural experiment station, engineering school, and women’s college. Rutgers’ campus heritage is a lesson and a laboratory of over two hundred years of college and university planning.  Landscapes and buildings that may seem familiar in isolation are extraordinary in their collection. Understanding historic growth patterns is the backbone of Rutgers’ continued growth and development. Stewardship ensures enhanced recognition and preservation of the university’s historical and cultural heritage.

Rutgers campuses statewide are home to “Old Queens,” a National Historic Landmark, and 14 state and nationally registered historic places.  The university owns properties in four nationally recognized historic districts, and one archeological district.  Four additional districts on Rutgers’ campuses have been designated eligible for inclusion in the historic register.

The Office of University Planning & Development (OUPD) has been designated the steward of Rutgers’ historic places, properties, and sites.  Its staff is professionally trained in various aspects of historic preservation and rehabilitation, including historic design, construction technology, interiors and landscape.  The office conducts archival and field research, and develops strategies for the preservation and management of its historic properties.  It responds to inquiries on a wide variety of historic preservation topics, and also engages in public out reach and educational endeavors.  OUPD also consults with members of the Rutgers community, and reviews reports, project plans, and applications prepared by professional consultants.  It provides the interface between the university and New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to protect Rutgers’ historical resources and insure compliance with National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966.

OUPD is in the process of developing a Historic Property Preservation Master Plan and a Preventative Maintenance Program for all university historic properties.  OUPD actively peruses grant monies for the restoration of historic properties which can be used to help off-set maintenance and preservation costs.