Repository: UIHistories Project: Book - 30 Year Master Plan (Tilton & O'Donnell) [PAGE 235]

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XV REPORT OF MR. FERRUCCIO VITALE ON THE LANDSCAPING OF THE CAMPUS MAY 17, 1929 Gentlemen: By a resolution of your Board of Trustees on June 29, 1928, we were retained as consulting Landscape Architects to study, in collaboration with Mr. Charles A. Piatt, Architect, and with James M. White, Supervising Architect, a comprehensive scheme of planting for the University, especially in regard to the South Campus, a new plan for which had been prepared by Mr. Piatt and had been accepted by your Board. The planting design was to be in harmony with, and serve as a setting for the imposing buildings located on the Campus, and if modifications of the general plan, in regard to roads and walks alingments, seemed advisable, suitable recommendations were to be made. The undersigned visited the University on September 10th for the first time in order to make himself familiar with the aspect of the grounds, with the nature of the buildings, of vegetation, etc. and received every assistance from Mr. White, from whom he obtained a very clear idea of the needs of the University and of the planting requirements. The undersigned visited again the University on October 8th and 9th, 1928, in order to check on the ground,in consultation with Mr. White, a very rough preliminary study. He also received from the office of the Supervising Architect additional plans and data. Definite preliminary plans were then prepared and made ready for discussion by March 15th of this year. On March 22nd Mr. White, Mr. Piatt, and the undersigned had a conference at our office, when the entire project was gone over in detail. The plans submitted with this report show a design representing the best thought of the three collaborators. We take this opportunity to express our appreciation of the intelligent help given to us by Professor Stanley White of the School of Landscape Architecture of your University. Professor White, while on a leave of absence, was in our employ for a time and contributed not only his thorough knowledge of local conditions, but valuable ideas as well. 229