Clinton N. Hewitt papers

Clinton N. Hewitt was born in 1935 in Powhatan, Virginia. He obtained a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from Virginia State College (1956), and B.S. (1963) and Masters (1965) degrees in Landscape Architecture from Michigan State University.(1)

While a student at Michigan State, Hewitt worked as a landscape architect for the Division of Physical Plant Planning and Development. From 1965-1968, he was employed as Superintendent of Campus Grounds and Development at Southern University, and from 1968-1972 was the Assistant University Planner at the University of Michigan.

Hewitt was appointed Director of Physical Planning and Assistant Professor of Horticultural Science at the University of Minnesota in April of 1972. (2) Among his first initiatives were the continuation of various campus transportation studies, implementation of a computerized car pool system, and an inventory of historic buildings on the St. Paul campus. (3)

Hewitt was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Physical Planning and Associate Professor in July of 1973. (4) In this role, Hewitt directed the Office of Physical Planning, which was composed of multiple units that coordinated the planning, design, and construction of facilities and managed the overall operation of properties owned by the University of Minnesota. This work was guided by a series of long-range development plans designed and implemented for multiple campuses, research centers, and other University properties.

In addition to planning for the construction of new buildings and remodeling existing facilities, Hewitt’s campus master plans encompassed all aspects of physical infrastructure. This included such areas as transportation (parking, transitways); maintenance (building code upgrades, asbestos abatement); accessibility (ramps, automatic door installation); landscape and environment (public art, outdoor plazas); and historic preservation. The Office of Physical Planning also made land evaluations and managed real estate transactions.

Hewitt was promoted to Associate Vice President of Physical Planning in 1983. (5) He retired from the University in 2009.

In a statement included in a curriculum vitae, Hewitt summarized the scope of his career:

“I have managed the planning, design and construction of facilities with funding of over one billions dollars, developed long-range development plans for the Minneapolis and Duluth campuses and the Rosemount Research Center, negotiated the contract for the Telecommunication System, authored the Policies and Principles for planning, design, and construction on the Twin Cities campus. I have supervised the University’s Real Estate operation that includes over 27,800 acres of campus and research facilities, 32, 670 acres of State owned land (Permanent University Fund Land, Salt Spring Lands and Pillsbury State Forest Lands) and 24,000 net acres of University and State-owned minerals, and provided overall management for the development of the Minnesota Facilities Model (Space Allocation and Utilization)... In 1996, I completed the coordination of the development of Master Plans for each of the campuses (Twin Cities, Crookston, Duluth, and Morris) in the System. This project allowed a specific focus on linking the future of the University (its programs, facilities, and people) to the future of the cities and neighborhoods where these campuses are located." (6)

Hewitt was a member of the Society for College and University Planners (SCUP), Association of Physical Plant Administrators of Universities and Colleges, American Institute of Architects, American Society of Landscape Architects, and was actively involved in symposia, institutes, and training seminars sponsored by these national organizations. Hewitt also served as consultant and member of evaluation committees for facilities management operation plans at higher education institutions throughout the country. Locally, Hewitt was a member of the University YMCA, Minneapolis/University Rotary Club, and various planning task forces and advisory committees for Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis.

References:

(1) Biographical File, Hewitt, Clinton N.