Just as there is excitement across campus today as first year students move in to their residence halls, there is also much excitement in Founders and Green halls today as faculty move in to newly renovated offices there.

After a rigorous eight weeks, the renovations in Founders/Green this summer are nearly complete. You may continue to see some minor construction activity into September, as the finishing touches are made.

The work this summer brought together academic departments in one location, updated faculty offices, modernized classrooms, and improved the accessibility of these buildings—including installing a new ramp on the second floor above the iconic archway and widening the corridors. A new all-gender bathroom was added to the 2^nd floor and the bathroom on the 4^th floor was replaced with a new handicapped-accessible facility.

The next phase of work scope in Founders/Green—work that will be finalized in the coming months—will begin next summer.

Here is a glimpse of some of the renovated spaces…

A renovated office in the Spanish Department.

Standing in the common area of the East Asian Languages and Cultures Department, clerestory windows were placed strategically to allow natural light from the outside to filter into the interior space.

Widened corridors will provide improved circulation within the building and direct access to faculty offices.

Renovated classrooms will include display screens, black boards, and contemporary mobile tablet armchairs that enable flexible room arrangements.

The new accessibility ramp on the second floor of the building.

Three-quarters of the way through the first phase of a multiphase renovation of Founders and Green halls, and work continues at a steady pace. This summer, the project in “Green Hall South” and “Founders Hall North” is being completed to update faculty offices, classrooms, and common spaces on the second, third, and fourth floors, bringing together academic departments and improving accessibility.

Earlier this summer, in the Spanish Department area of the fourth floor, crews unearthed a large block wall, previously concealed beneath the walls, that they had to remove block by block. Other than that minor setback, work has continued on time and on budget throughout the summer.

The renovations are expected to be completed in time for the start of the fall semester.

Take a peek inside…

A new accessibility ramp is being installed on the second floor, replacing stairs, above one of the iconic Green Hall archways directly below it.

A faculty office on the fourth floor undergoes renovations.

A corridor on the fourth floor has been widened to provide better accessibility.

Deb Spielman, project manager, and Cappy Lynch, dean of faculty affairs, review floor plans for Founders and Green.

An outdated phone booth on the second floor will be turned into an electrical room.

With administrative offices moving into the newly renovated Schneider Center this week, we officially begin the first phase of a multi-phase renovation project in Founders and Green halls.

This first phase of work will be completed this summer, and will be generally focused on the area of the buildings informally known as “Green Hall South” and “Founders Hall North.” Renovations will bring together academic departments in one location, update faculty offices and classrooms, create more common spaces, and improve the accessibility of these historic and iconic buildings.

What You Can Expect
The work this summer in Founders/Green will be noisy. Construction workers will generally be in the building Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and they strive to do the more disruptive activity earlier in the morning.

Beginning this week and throughout the duration of the project this summer, portions of Green and Founders will be closed. Please note:

• There will be no passage from Green to Founders on the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th floors; that same area on the first floor (by the Office of Human Resources) will be open.
• The stair tower and elevator will remain open and in use this summer.
• The entrance to the building by El Table will be open and the nearby elevator on that level (accessible by the ramp) will be in use.
• The stairwell near El Table will be closed.

Additionally, the road that goes under the Green Hall archways will need to be closed periodically, while a new ramp to improve accessibility is installed.

Summer Moves
This summer, three academic departments—East Asian Languages and Cultures, Spanish, and French—will move out of the building until the renovation work is complete. Faculty and staff in those departments can best be reached by email over the summer.

Additionally, HR will relocate temporarily this summer just down the hall on the first floor of Green Hall, to the space where Student Financial Services has recently moved out of. HR will return to their existing offices at the end of the summer.