The construction boom
November 2nd, 2005 | Published in '53 Commons, all news, Carpenter Hall, Dartmouth Row, Life Sciences Ctr., Med. School, north campus, other projects, preservation, Thayer Dining Hall, Tuck LLC, Visual Arts Center
In a speech to the faculty on October 31, President Wright announced: “I think we can confidently say that there has never been as much construction at any one time in our history.” Below is an excerpt from his speech as it relates to each future building project, with speculation about the architects added. In the context of architecture as a world art form, the most important project is the first listed here; the project that is most important to the school is listed second:
- “We are already in the planning stage for the visual arts center and will be continuing that process during the coming months.”
–Designer: Machado & Silvetti - “In the area of student life we are also in the final stages of planning a new dining hall north of campus, and a replacement dining hall at the current Thayer Dining site. The Class of 1953 has provided the funding for the north of Maynard Street facility, which will include space for graduate students. The dining projects will be staggered and will cause some disruption as we will need to complete the north of Maynard project before we begin at the Thayer site.”
–Class of ’53 Dining Hall designer: presumably Moore Ruble Yudell
–New Thayer Dining Hall designer: possibly Centerbrook - “The Tuck School has plans for a living and learning center and they are moving forward with that aggressively. They already have most of the funding in place and are working on construction design, with the intent of starting construction during the second half of next year.”
–Designer: Goody Clancy - “The Medical School is moving ahead with their plans for a translational research building to be constructed near the hospital in Lebanon.”
–Designer: possibly SBRA - “The Grasse Road III project, currently before the town for approval, will provide more affordable housing than can be found in the local market.”
–Designer: unknown, possibly William Rawn Associates - “The life sciences building has been a challenge both in terms of fundraising and planning. Our original notion of a shared laboratory facility with the Medical School has evolved, and we are now thinking about a facility on the Hanover campus that will be primarily for the Biology Department, with only some classroom and meeting space for the Medical School. While this remains one of my very top priorities for fund raising, we are also looking at ways to use debt financing and internal resources to ensure that this project moves forward in a timely fashion.”
- “I have asked the Provost to review plans for renovation of the Dartmouth Row buildings and Carpenter Hall.”
