Summer 2017 Construction Recap

November 06, 2017

Every summer, while many students and faculty enjoy a well-earned summer respite, Facilities and Operations takes the time to complete construction projects, large and small, that can only take place when students are away. These include residence hall renovations and outdoor projects that require warmer weather. Other construction projects are performed during the summer to take advantage of the smaller impact on the decreased campus population.

The summer of 2017 was no exception, with many projects taking place from the Morningside campus up to the Baker Athletics Complex. The project descriptions below represent a sampling of the improvements, including several updates to improve disability access, that took place over the summer which the University community can now enjoy:

  • Projects improving disability access on campus, the most prominent of which this past summer was the restoration of Butler Plaza and Butler Lawn.  The renovation replaced steps and temporary metal ramps from the east and west approaches to the library’s main entrance with permanent, accessible entryways, and added a permanent ramp from the northern approach. The project also included a complete plaza restoration consistent with the overall historic campus architecture and landscaping plan, making Butler Lawn feel more open and inviting with perimeter benches, new Wi-Fi capabilities and more. 

  • Renovations to four of the residence halls.  Necessary plumbing upgrades at Carman Hall were coupled with aesthetic changes that one student publication sarcastically deemed unworthy of the building’s cinderblock reputation.

  • Upgrades to classrooms and administrative space, including a historic restoration and modernization of the Joseph D. Jamail Lecture Hall at Pulitzer Hall and renovated space to support the Office of University Life and its growing mission.

  • Student space enhancements, including a refresh of the General Studies Student Lounge and a renovated Stephen Donaldson Lounge in Schapiro Hall for LGBTQ programming and community building.

  • New laboratories and research areas, including spaces in the Northwest Corner Building and Fairchild Hall.