Campus Transformation Makes Great Strides During Fall Semester
November 29, 2007
As the fall 2007 semester draws to a close, so too do a number of significant phases in the College's transformation and construction endeavors.
In the last few months, members of the Emmanuel community have witnessed immense progress in campus construction. In just the last few weeks alone, three noteworthy projects have reached completion, marking considerable steps towards the revitalization of the College's grounds.
Firstly, thanks to a few days of rain this month, the grass on the College's quad was able to root properly, ultimately allowing for the area to be re-opened in mid-November. Drainage work was done on the area over the summer, with the re-sodding process taking a bit longer than expected due to a lack of precipitation throughout the autumn months. A popular location for students to meet, play and relax, the rejuvenated quad remains a focal point in Emmanuel's commitment to maintaining a green and beautiful campus. With the recent improvements, along with additional careful treatment throughout the remainder of the fall, community members can expect the area to be in great condition upon the arrival of the warmer spring months.
Secondly, the modular meeting space on the library quad has officially opened, fully equipped with media and restrooms to accommodate up to 90 people. Prior to the space's arrival, extensive work was performed on a drainage system in the area, with the hole being filled in during late September and eventually paved over. The modular meeting room will serve as a secondary assembly area in place of the Administration Meeting Room (AMR) during the remainder of the College's construction process, due to emergency exit requirements that have limited the room's capacity. Landscape work will be completed in the next few weeks around the library, with its quad eventually being restored to its previous green form upon overall project completion.
Nearly all of the scaffolding that has surrounded the College's historic Administration Building since the spring has been removed, revealing an invigorated look to the nearly 90-year-old structure. Throughout the exterior restoration process, work was done to the masonry, roof and stairways of the landmark building, with every brick and piece of slate being refurbished. Replacement of the limestone capstones at the top of the building resulted in a more time-consuming undertaking than expected, as each stone had to be individually prepared by a craftsman in Rhode Island. Currently, new veneer stones at the base of the building are continuing to be added over the next few weeks, a supplementary project not originally anticipated as part of the restoration project.
According to Vice President of Operations and Information Technology John Aversa, construction on the new Academic Science Center is in "good shape," with members of the Walsh Brothers construction team continuing to work on pouring the concrete foundation for the underground parking garage. Construction has continued on Saturdays over the last few weeks to ensure adherence to the project's schedule, and the foundation should be set before the cold winter temperatures swing through. The excavation process is expected to continue through the winter months, with the bulk of the work occurring below ground.
With everything running smoothly, community members can expect to finally see the beginnings of a structure taking shape as the spring months start to roll around. Starting in April, steel will begin to be put in place, representing the skeleton of the eventual Academic Science Center.
With winter recess shortly approaching, the College would like to thank students, faculty, staff and friends for their continued support throughout its transformation process. With every day that passes, the opening of the Academic Science Center continues to draw even closer.
"This is truly an exciting time to be a member of the Emmanuel College community," said Sr. Anne Donovan, SND, Treasurer and Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations. "We have made remarkable progress since the summer, and the patience of our students, faculty and staff has been greatly appreciated. The results of this construction will be a facility which will not only increase and upgrade our classroom space, but will provide more opportunities for collaborative teaching and learning, faculty/student research, community building, and more."