Architects are working to refine and finalize designs for the renovations of Bulfinch Hall in time for the Board of Trustees meeting in the fall of 2011. The construction process is projected to be completed by the winter of 2013.
The goal of the project is to modify the building to be handicap-accessible, create a larger faculty lounge space and renovate existing classrooms.
The heating and electrical systems will also be improved in order to bring the building up to code.
In order to retain the building’s historical structure, the exterior of the building will remain unchanged except for a 1,200 square foot addition on the side of the building facing Benner House.
Larry Muench, Director of Facilities, said, “We want to maintain the historical aspect [of the building]. It is a beautiful building and we want to respect that.”
The additional space will be used primarily for the faculty lounge, new bathrooms and an elevator.
Over the past month, the architects have consulted the English Department faculty over the plans for the renovations.
“[The English instructors] had a lot of input as to what they said was important to them and what would help them teach better. The architects will continue to work closely with them over the next few months to make sure that their needs continue to be identified,” said Muench.
John Bird, Instructor in English, said that he would like to see a bigger faculty lounge in the renovated building.
“The lounge is our greatest resource as teachers, the space in which we talk about texts, exchange ideas and methods,” he said.
Soundproof walls and windows will be installed in buildings adjacent to Bulfinch in order to minimize the noise of the construction occurring outside during the spring term of 2012. This strategy was employed during the Commons renovation from 2008-2009.
Muench said, “We are talking with the faculty and administration to develop a contingency plan for classes in case it gets too loud, but we’re hoping we don’t have to go there.”
“I am not worried about the distractions—most of the work, as I understand it, will take place over the summer break,” said Bird.
“My biggest worry is that all the blackboards [in Bulfinch] will be replaced by whiteboards and those awful, smelly markers,” Bird added.
According to Muench, at the completion of the school year, the workers will enter a “summer slammer,” in which much of the construction, especially the interior work, will be completed.
Muench also said that Bulfinch needed renovations for some time but due to the lack of funding, the project was pushed to the back burner for several years.
“We realized it was going to be a fairly expensive renovation. At that point, we went out to donors, which really gave the project the horsepower it needed,” said Muench.
Funds for the renovations have topped four million dollars at this point, the majority of which is donor-given.
Despite these generous contributions, the funding for the project has not yet been acquired in full.
“Once we verify the pricing of the project, we are going to have to make sure that the donor funds are increased,” said Muench.
