After the spring semester exam period, Facilities Services will begin a $10.5 million renovation of Forest Hall that will add 11 new beds and bring the building’s systems up to code compliance.
The renovation will also move the Mailing Service and Reprographics office to the Freeman International Center (FIC), while the Registrar’s Office will remain in its current location. The relocation of the Mailing Service is planned to begin following spring break, but student mail boxes will remain in McCullough Student Center.
The renovation will add one double room, nine single rooms, a lounge and a kitchen area. An elevator will also be installed.
“The elevator will improve ADA accessibility in the eastern section of the building, and we will enhance access as to the laundry room,” said Vice President for Administration Tim Spears.
Project Manager Tom McGinn explained that the renovation will also make a “big difference” in terms of the energy efficiency of the building.
“Between the window replacement, the insulation, new LED lighting … and the new heating system, we’re expecting that we’ll save 20 to 25 percent of the building’s energy expenditures on an annual basis,” said McGinn.
Forest was originally built in 1936, and the building still contains the original steam heating system and single-pane windows. Portions of the electrical system also date to 1936. The current students’ rooms do not have built-in light fixtures.
In addition to regulatory work on the fire alarm systems, carbon monoxide detection system, sprinkler system and emergency lighting, Spears added that the renovation will include the installation of an air conditioning system.
“It’s getting warmer here during the summer [and the] Language School programs are jam-packed, so it’s something we have to pay attention to,” said Spears.
Facilities Services originally presented the project to the Board of Trustees about a year and a half ago.
“The budget [was] approved last week by the Buildings and Grounds committee and the Budget and Finance committee,” said Spears. “Then there was a follow up discussion and approval by the Prudential committee … so we’re good to go.”
McGinn commented that “the building itself is in great shape.” As a result, the renovation will not alter the stone façade, foundation or original roof. The renovation will change the outdoor appearance of the lower entrance to Forest East.
“We’re looking at some different landscape schemes,” said McGinn.
McGinn explained that these renovation plans have been in the works for about a year and a half. Once Facilities Services realized the renovations could not be completed while students were living in the building, they needed to provide the Language Schools with a year’s notice that Forest Hall would be unavailable during the summer.
The relocation of the Mailing Service and Repographics will allow better use of the “underutilized” FIC, according to McGinn.
“At FIC, Reprographics and Mailing Services will get a fully dedicated loading dock, which they don’t currently have,” added Spears.
Other projects for the summer include the move of the Music Library from the Kevin P. Mahaney ’84 Center for the Arts to the Davis Family Library and the installment of a new water line and new foundations for some buildings on the Bread Loaf mountain campus.
“It’s going to be a busy summer,” said McGinn.
Forest Hall renovation scheduled for summer 2011
Comments
