To: Wellesley College Faculty and Staff
From: Piper Orton, Vice President for Finance and Administration and Treasurer, and Dave Chakraborty, Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management and Planning
Re: Update on Major Construction Projects
Date: September 6, 2023
We are writing to update you on the status of several ongoing construction projects. It was a very busy summer on campus. We recognize that projects on this scale can be disruptive, and we appreciate the partnership of faculty, staff, and students in the process.
Academic Program Buildings
Pendleton East: The critical repairs to the HVAC system in Pendleton East were completed on time. The elevator has been replaced. The classrooms and common areas have been repainted and upgraded with new lighting systems and furniture.
Founders: Critical repairs in Founders have been completed. The masonry and windows have been repaired to prevent leaks and infiltration of moisture. The common areas have been freshly painted, and the lighting systems have been upgraded. New signage will be installed over the fall semester. Completion of the project was slightly delayed by an unexpected complication in the installation of a fire sprinkler system.
Whitin House: The demolition of Whitin House (also referred to as Observatory Hall) was undertaken this summer. Unique elements of the original building have been preserved, such as the stained-glass window and the fireplace mantel.
Davis Museum: The critical repairs to the museum’s HVAC system and the building envelope are being completed this month, on schedule. The museum will remain closed for the fall semester while the museum staff reinstalls the collection. It is scheduled to reopen in February 2024.
Clapp Library: The critical repairs in Clapp Library will begin in January 2024, and the library is scheduled to reopen in January 2025. While it is closed, a portion of the special collections needed for teaching will be housed on the fifth floor of the Davis Museum. The library’s other collections will be stored off-site. The provost and chief information officer sent additional information about the library on August 29.
Residential Life
Severance Hall: The second, and final, phase of the renovation of Severance Hall is complete. The building systems have been replaced, the exterior masonry repaired, and the rooms and common spaces upgraded.
Tower Hall: The first phase of the renovation of Tower Hall is complete. The second phase, scheduled for summer 2024, will include more public spaces and improved accessibility in the Great Hall.
Health and Counseling Services: Health and counseling services have been relocated to the College Club for the 2023–24 academic year. Simpson Hall is slated for demolition by December 2023. A new building will be constructed in its place to house both the health and counseling services and will open in fall 2024. Renovations to Simpson Cottage (also known as the Stone Center) will begin in spring 2024. Wellesley Centers for Women researchers and staff are scheduled to move to Simpson Cottage from Cheever House after the renovations are completed.
Community
College Club: Several of the meeting rooms at the College Club are available for Wellesley College gatherings this year. We know that meeting space on campus is at a premium. The rooms are listed in the 25Live system and are available for reservations.
Wang Campus Center/Package Lockers: This month we will be piloting a new program to facilitate package pickup by students. An Amazon locker has been installed on the outside lower level of the Wang Campus Center. Students will have the option of shipping orders directly to one of these lockers, where they can pick up packages 24/7. The pilot is only available to students at this time.
We want to express our thanks to the entire Facilities team as well as to the faculty and staff, whose partnership is essential to undertaking the work. Even with the extraordinary level of construction activity this summer, we did not lose sight of the fact that the purpose is to enable faculty, staff, and students to work and live in spaces that are comfortable, functional, energy-efficient, and safe.
We will continue to provide updates on our progress as this work moves forward.
