Preservation Plan Grade Listing Criteria

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UMW Preservation Plan

Grading Criteria for Buildings and Landscapes: Objectives of Grade Classifications: The grading of the University of Mary Washington’s structures and landscapes is an attempt to appropriately address, both from an historical, as well as fiscal perspective, potential impacts in a manner that coincides with the significance and integrity of the impacted site. Therefore, structures and landscapes deemed to retain a high level of significance and integrity will receive higher grade designation and be afforded a more intensive evaluation when interventions are proposed by either general maintenance concerns or larger Master Planning conflicts. Such evaluation will diminish progressively as significance and integrity, therefore grade level, decreases. In this manner, fiscal resources and time can be allocated most appropriately to those structures deemed worthy. Guidelines for treatment will also be developed for each grade category. It should be noted however that grade classifications are apt to change over the course of time or in the case of substantial alterations to the structure or site. Therefore, it is necessary to re-evaluate grade listings every five years.1 This time frame has proven to allow enough time to pass for changes to occur as well as not burden the institution with costly annual inspections and Preservation Plan changes. Exceptions: While most buildings will be covered by a single grade classification, there are exceptions. The first exception would occur should a particular feature, such as an interior room, or exterior architectural detail, warrant a higher grade classification as compared with the entirety of the building. In this instance, a separate grade listing can be applied to the particular feature allowing for different guidelines to be used in its treatment. However, because of the potential for such designations to confuse the implementation of the Preservation Plan, such designations should be used sparingly. The other exception would occur under the evalaution of landscapes where a particular façade of a structure contributes significantly to the space in question. For example, a structure like Chandler Hall may not be eligible for grade I listing under its own merits, however, as part of Ball Circle, Chandler Hall’s front façade becomes a contributing assest to a grade I listed landscape, and therefore, would need to be considered under those guidelines. Such exceptions can be applied to a site iregardless of the sites age. Terminology: Understanding both significance and integrity, as defined by the Secretary of Interior, is important to assuring proper grade listing of structures and landscapes owned by the University of Mary Washington. Through these definitions, in association with the sites age, history, context, and level of significance, grade listings should be developed. Significance: The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and: 1

Quinquenial, English system of re-evaluating and inspecting churches based on anticipated changes and economy.


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Preservation Plan Grade Listing Criteria by University of Mary Washington - Issuu