After taking another look at the proposed renovation plan, architects’ initial findings suggest that it might be possible to expand and improve Commons without having to also renovate Pearson. In the new plan, Commons would have three halls in Commons for everyday dining and a community café in place of the fourth hall. According to Michael Williams, Director of Facilities, the construction would also expand Ryley and add an improved entrance. These initial designs would allow Pearson to be used for other purposes. According to Mr. Williams, the committee does not currently know what they would do with the free space. Regardless of whether Pearson is renovated as part of the Commons project, it will need to be renovated given its poor condition. Another potential advantage of the designs is that they may allow the school to proceed more quickly on their plans for the renovation of Bulfinch. During a meeting in May, the Board of Trustees approved a decision to begin making the designs for the renovation of Commons and Pearson. The renovation design work began this past summer. A project committee composed of many community members is guiding design plans. Although the plan may call for three dining halls for daily meals and one for the café, Mr. Williams said, “the three halls will have enough space for daily dining plus you will be able to eat in the café, if you wish, in a different sort of setting. We anticipate only a modest seating reduction in the café compared to a regular dining room so the building capacity is not reduced significantly.” All of these findings are preliminary and will not be considered final until the design is in its further stages. According to Mr. Williams, the design will evolve as the committee works out all the details. Mr. Williams said, “We have always known that bringing the community together in Commons was the best option, if we could figure out a way to achieve this with a reasonable investment. This design concept may give us this opportunity…Pearson can then be used for other purposes. Given its history and central location, it would be a significant planning achievement to preserve Pearson for unidentified future school needs.” The architects and the project committee will take a few more months to review all the aspects of the Commons and Pearson renovations. According to Mr. Williams, the plans for Commons will not be final until next summer and the Pearson plans are currently on hold. He said that right now there is no scheduled completion date for the renovation designs. Libby Hambleton ’08 said about the Pearson renovations, “I do not think that they should renovate Pearson because it’s an Andover legend and it is really important to our history as a school.”
