Facilities Development Plan - The University of Nebraska Kearney

Facilities Development Plan
HISTORIC DISTRICTS
AND PLACES
UNK and the City of Kearney have made
signifi cant contributions to the history and
settlement of Nebraska and the United States.
The community possesses many historic
resources. The Platte River has long been an
important corridor for the inhabitants of this
54
2006 - 2015
valley. The City of Kearney currently boasts
six historic properties listed at the National
Register of Historic Places, one of which is
situated at UNK —the George W. Frank House
(1889).
The original eastern portion of campus features
a distinctive and attractive architectural style,
best evidenced by Copeland
Hall, A. O. Thomas Hall, and
Men’s Hall. This style should
receive special consideration as
campus development continues,
especially in new buildings and
exterior renovations. The western
portion of main campus, originally
a hospital facility, has its own
architectural style, refl ected in the
West Center, and the West Heating
Plant. Unique features of these
facilities should be refl ected in
future west campus development.
In all cases, a balance needs to be
struck between desire for historic
preservation and overall cost of
renovation and maintenance. The
former Electric Street Railway
Power Plant is an example of a
facility with signifi cant historic
interest that is structurally
unsuitable for use. Consideration
of this location as a central heating
plant maintains this site for its
original intentions. Developing a
façade sensitive to this history,
and integrating it with the Spillway
Park will benefi t both the campus
and the community.
CHAPTER 5