Loomis Chaffee constantly seeks to update its infrastructure to improve both student life and campus efficiency. With construction in dormitories, the Katharine Brush Library, the Scanlan Student Center, and most recently the continuation of The Way, community members wonder: what has factored into these decisions, and when will the various projects come to a close?
Mr. Lance Hall, Director of Physical Plant, gave a much anticipated update.
After beginning renovation in the spring of 2022, dormitory Palmer Hall is almost completed.
“The faculty apartments have been updated … air conditioning has been added to all the student rooms, common spaces, [and] corridors, as well as improved bathrooms on all three floors of Palmer,” Mr. Hall said.
Student residents at Palmer Hall feel generally positive about the ongoing renovation.
“I’m glad that they remodeled the dorm,” Lily Magliacano ’24, a resident of Palmer Hall, said. “It’s super nice and great to live in. The only problem is that it can be annoying to be surrounded by construction workers during the school day. There are some days when you wake up to a drill hammer at 7 a.m., and others when you’re startled awake by the fire alarm.”
Originally, this project was predicted to be completed by the beginning of this school year, but economic issues have delayed that expectation.
“The reason the project is not complete at this point is kind of tied into supply chain issues,” Mr. Hall said. “We’re trying to get steel together for the stairwell.”
With the addition of the second stairwell, Palmer is predicted to be completed within the next one to two weeks.
Loomis is also concerned with improvements to accessibility. An all-school survey conducted the last school year revealed that there were very few accessible facilities for disabled community members on campus. The construction near dormitories Warham Hall, Howe Hall, and the student center are all in the final stages for accessibility ramps that have been in the works for two to three years
“[Anyone that comes to campus will] be able to go from the upper quad to the lower quad, whether they’re in a wheelchair, walker or anything that they need that makes accessibility to stairs difficult,” Mr. Hall said.
The library has also undergone a project early this fall.
“The construction is to relocate the Learning Access & Student Achievement Center from Chaffee to the 2nd floor of the library,” Mr. Eric Styles, Katharine Brush Library Director, said.
Regarding the continuation of The Way behind Howe, Palmer, and Batchelder Hall, questions arose amongst the student body about the timeframe and purpose.
“We are continuing the campus Way that right now ends at Howe, and we’re taking it all the way to Longman parking lot,” said Mr. Hall. “It will probably be done [in] early spring.”
An email sent to the Loomis community from Physical Plant stated that this project will include “enhancing lighting; adding an ADA-accessible ramp; adding a half-court outdoor basketball area; installing an enhanced seating area by the Shea Family tennis courts; and adding plantings and seating along the Way.”
Although construction season at LC might seem never-ending, it appears there are exciting milestones this year featuring improvements to life on the Island.