Oakland, CA - Mills College has been selected by the Getty Foundation to receive a 2006 Campus Heritage grant. One of only 13 Campus Heritage recipients nationwide, Mills will use the $170,000 grant to fund the Mills College landscape heritage plan. The plan will document the campus from its 19th century origins to the present, including Mills’ cultural landscape, nationally prominent architecture, and continuing commitment to innovative women’s education.

The plan includes a ‘deep read’ of the 135-acre campus to transcribe existing landscapes and features, their origins and designers, and develop a contextual chronology reflecting the distinct character of Mills. This initiative will guide the college in future planning and growth, while honoring its landscape heritage values that contribute to the adjacent community, the San Francisco Bay Area, and California.
 
According to Karen Fiene, Mills campus architect, “This generous Getty Foundation grant provides Mills an outstanding opportunity to research and record campus development from its original native California landscape, to its current lush oasis set in the urban context of Oakland.”

She adds, “Historic landscapes will be evaluated for restoration and ground work for long-range stewardship of the Mills legacy will be outlined and incorporated into the campus master plan. This project dovetails with the ongoing master planning of campus utilities, creeks and sustainable growth.”

”The Mills College campus, with its outstanding historic landscapes and buildings, is of significance for the entire San Francisco Bay Area,” said Joan Weinstein, Interim Director of the Getty Foundation. “We are pleased to support the College in their development of a comprehensive landscape heritage plan.”

Founded in 1852, Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently ranked among the top 75 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills is also recognized as one of the country’s 20 most diverse liberal arts colleges. The Princeton Review selected Mills as one of 11 colleges for first-time inclusion in its Best 361 Colleges in 2005. Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California on 135 lush acres, Mills provides a dynamic liberal arts education fostering women’s leadership, social responsibility, and creativity. www.mills.edu

The J. Paul Getty Trust is an international cultural and philanthropic institution devoted to the visual arts that features the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Getty Research Institute. The J. Paul Getty Trust and Getty programs serve a varied audience from two locations: the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu. Additional information is available at www.getty.edu.

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