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: January 19, 2023
We are writing to update you on the status of several ongoing construction projects that will have an impact on the campus community over the next 18 months. We recognize that projects on this scale can be disruptive, and we appreciate the partnership of faculty, staff, and students in the process.
Pendleton East: Construction started this month. The target date for completion is August in order to be ready for classes this fall. PNE faculty offices and classrooms have been relocated to the modular buildings for the spring semester.
Davis Museum: Construction will start on February 15 with a target completion date of September 30, 2023. Davis staff offices will be relocated to Cheever House during construction.
Simpson Hall/Simpson Cottage: Renovations to Simpson Cottage, home to the Stone Center Counseling Service, will begin this summer. Health services and counseling services will move over the summer to redesigned space in the College Club, where they will remain for the 2023–2024 academic year. Simpson Hall is slated for demolition, and a new building will be constructed in its place to house both the health and counseling services, with a target opening date of fall 2024.
Pool House: The design of the new pool house building is in progress. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2024.
Clapp Library: As we reported to the community in December, we are considering various options for the Clapp Library project. We will share more information later in the spring.
Severance Hall: The second and final phase of the renovation of Severance Hall is scheduled for summer 2023.
Tower Hall: Design for the renovation of Tower Hall is in progress, and the first phase of the renovation is scheduled for summer 2023. The final phase of the renovation is scheduled for summer 2024.
Claflin Hall: Design is in progress, and the first phase of the renovation is scheduled for summer 2024.
Whitin House: After extensive deliberation, review, and discussion with key members of the community and the board of trustees, the College is applying to tear down Whitin House (also referred to as Observatory House). The process is likely to take 12 to 14 months.
The house, built around 1906, was for many years treasured and well-used by the astronomy department, and more recently it was the field office for the construction of the new Science Complex. The cost of renovating the house for alternative use would be prohibitive, given its poor physical condition and current ADA and other code requirements.
After the building is removed, we will use the site to create a better connection between the new Science Complex and the observatory. Unique elements of the building will be saved, such as the stained glass window and the fireplace mantel.
We thank you all for your patience and understanding as we manage these projects and try to minimize the disruption to members of our community. We will provide updates on our progress as this work moves forward.
