Immediately after the designs were put on poster board on the fence surrounding the site, students, faculty, and alumni began to protest. Countless letters were sent to Facilities and the Office of President Barchi demanding that these historic arches not be destroyed. John Giganti, vice president of the Rutgers University Historical Society, started an online petition to save the arches and prevent the glass boxes. Citing that the arches had “local historical and architectural value,” Giganti started a movement that quickly gained momentum. Conversation was all over Reddit from students, faculty, and alumni alike, and both Muckgers and The Daily Targum each published articles on the matter. In the recent past, Rutgers had not been too kind to historical buildings, such as those on Seminary Place and College Avenue, which were removed in 2013 for redevelopment. If there was time to stop a piece of Rutgers architectural history from being destroyed, that time was now.

After a barrage of letters, articles, and an online petition reaching 109 signatures, a compromise was made to keep the arches and completely redesign the renovation plans for the Quads. Citing dissatisfaction from an overwhelming amount of people in the Rutgers community, the designs, which currently reside on the fence outside of the Quads, have been completely scrapped. The glass boxes will not be built, and the historic aspects of the area will be preserved.

Archway between Pell and Leupp. (Photo: Elijah Reiss)

Conceptual art for the new design was submitted by Elizabeth Reeves, the preservationist architect in Facilities. In the open air space that rests atop the archways between Wessels and Leupp, Leupp and Pell, and Pell and Hegeman, floors will be built to connect the each building to the other. These floors have been designed to externally match the look of the existing buildings. The arches will be structurally reinforced to hold each wing. By building on top of the arches and internally reinforcing the arches to hold up the new wing, open access in and out of the area will be the same as it always has been. An elevator is also going to be built into the Hegeman-Pell area parallel to George Street to accommodate the American with Disabilities Act.

On the success of the movement Giganti had this to say:

I am thrilled by this turn of events. This shows that when values are expressed and heard, common ground can be found. You hope that the overlapping values of students, alumni, and facilities produce an outcome better than anyone could have imagined on their own. I did my best to advocate for the material quality of our campus and I knew I couldn’t be alone in my values. I also found that the administration is not as monolithic and closed as it sometimes appears. If we keep talking, this bodes well for our future.

The main archways at the Quads. (Photo: Elijah Reiss)

Elizabeth Reeves helped the movement tremendously by pushing for an alternative design. Due to her efforts and the efforts of many in the Rutgers community, the Bishop Quad arches will not be destroyed. She is very pleased with the outcome of the movement. The Bishop arches will stand tall as they have since the late 1920’s, and grow to be loved and appreciated by generations to come.