Salve Regina's 80-acre campus bordering the famed Cliff Walk exemplifies significant developments in the architectural, historical and cultural heritage of 19th- and early 20th-century America. The University continues to act as a steward of this heritage and is actively engaged in preserving the splendor of its Gilded Age properties, while also adapting them for educational use.
The University's efforts at historic preservation have been singled out for awards and special praise by the Preservation Society of Newport County, the Newport Historical Society, the Victorian Society of America, Save America's Treasures, the Rhode Island Historic Preservation Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In 2002, Salve Regina became the first New England institution to receive a Getty Grant Program award to develop a Campus Heritage Preservation Plan. The plan includes a detailed review of 21 buildings which comprise seven contiguous 19th-century estates that distinguish Salve Regina’s historic campus. The plan also provides further structure and resources for the University's practice of utilizing its campus as an academic "living laboratory."
Founders Hall is a prime example of the unique living experiences available at Salve Regina.