Scaffolding surrounds Sterling's book tower; renovations begin on Payne Whitney Gym
The pace of ongoing renovations at Yale accelerated during the summer months, bringing major improvements to three residential colleges, Sterling Memorial Library, the Law School, Payne Whitney Gymnasium, the Central Power Plant and the Peabody Museum of Natural History at a cost of about $42 million.
The perpetual task of maintaining the University's 225 buildings requires the help of dozens of contractors and hundreds of workers, with activities peaking in the summer when many buildings are not in heavy use. This year, as in past years, the vast majority of Yale's construction contracts were awarded to firms with offices in Connecticut, thus boosting the local economy, says Arch Currie, director of project management in the Yale Office of Facilities.
Many of the buildings now being renovated are 60 years old or older, and Yale planners envision another 50 years of good service from them, Mr. Currie says. Because mechanical systems generally have a life expectancy of 15 to 30 years while structural repairs can last as long as 60 to 80 years, repairs are staggered, with some buildings getting a thorough make-over while others receive less extensive upgrades.
Perhaps the most visible of dozens of summer construction projects is taking place at the Sterling Memorial Library at the heart of the Yale campus. With its 16-story book stack tower now encased in scaffolding, the library is undergoing an extensive $35 million renovation that began last fall and will continue through 1997. The tower contains about 4.5 million books, the lion's share of Yale's 10 million books, constituting one of the largest university collections in the world.
Designed by James Gamble Rogers, the Sterling Memorial Library was completed in 1930, at a time when environmental controls for book preservation were not considered in the design. Air conditioning systems are being installed, along with new heating, lighting, electrical, sprinkler and fire alarm systems in the tower and the front office area. Thermally efficient windows, and new roofs and elevators are planned along with repairs to decorative leaded glass windows and bathrooms. Summer renovations also focused on the Main Reading Room, which is being air conditioned and refurbished. About $5 million of the project was completed this summer alone.
Another massive, multi-year renovation project is providing the most extensive refurbishing and expansion of the neo-Gothic buildings at the Yale Law School since their construction in 1931. About $2 million was spent this summer on the plaza level of the Lillian Goldman Library, an area that formerly housed the International Law Library collection. Located under the nearby Beinecke Plaza, the area has been completely reconfigured in order to increase its storage capacity from 200,000 to 400,000 volumes. The telecommunications, electrical and fire safety systems have been upgraded along with the heating and air-conditioning systems.
This recent work, along with work completed during the past two summers, sets the stage for future phases in which all remaining residential, academic and administrative facilities at the Law School are expected to be reconfigured and renovated.
Phase 1 of gym project
The Payne Whitney Gymnasium, designed by John Russell Pope, was completed in 1932 and is among the nation's largest athletic facilities. Mr. Currie says a redesign was overdue to accommodate changes in athletic programs, including those related to Yale's shift to coeducation in 1969. Total renovations in the first phase of the project scheduled for completion in 1998 will cost about $35 million.
The initial renovations included six new international-sized squash courts, replacing eight existing U.S.-format courts. The new courts feature state-of-the-art sand-filled fiber reinforced wall panels and premium northern maple wood floors. All of the courts have glass walls on at least one side, with one court intended for exhibition play. Scheduled next is a new addition to house four new basketball courts and an indoor jogging track; a new exercise center; renovations to the amphitheater; and significant upgrades to the building systems and locker rooms.
Work in Silliman, Morse and Stiles
Three of the 12 residential colleges for undergraduate students received major attention this summer. Silliman College at 505 College St., which was completed in 1940, received a $4.8 million fire protection upgrade. The electrical system was upgraded to provide emergency lighting, pass-through doors were cut between suites to provide a second means of egress, and five exterior doors added. Entryway bathrooms were completely remodeled.
Morse College and Ezra Stiles College, located at 302 York St. and 19 Tower Pkwy. respectively, were designed by renowned architect Eero Saarinen as virtual mirror images of each other and were constructed together in 1962. Both have been extensively renovated, with most of the work on Ezra Stiles performed during the summer of 1995 and Morse receiving the bulk of its upgrade work this past summer. The total cost of renewing the two colleges was $22.6 million with $9.5 million of that expended this summer.
In Morse, all of the original steel windows were replaced with thermal double-glazed windows. Interior renovations included refurbishing shutters, walls, doors, ceiling, woodwork, and built-in shelves and desks, and stripping the slate floors. More suites were created by reconfiguring rooms, and handicap access was provided. The telecommunications system was fully upgraded throughout. Other work included upgrading the electrical and fire safety systems.Thetower received a new elevator, and the heating plant was completely refurbished and expanded.
Exterior improvements included new bluestone walkways, landscaping with benches and bike racks, lighting, drainage and handicap ramps. Steam and water pipes beneath the courtyard were replaced and new chilled water pipes were added for future use.
Old Campus renovations
Charles W. Bingham Hall, located on the busy downtown corner of Chapel and College streets, received $9.5 million in upgrades as part of a $17 million project to be completed this fall. It was the last residential hall to be thoroughly updated in the historic Old Campus quadrangle, which is traditionally where Yale students live during their freshman year. Bingham Hall also houses the comparative literature library and reading room and the Yale chaplain's offices.
Other renovation projects this summer included $6.5 million at the Central Power Plant on Tower Parkway. Yale's power plant system -- parts of which are nearly a century old -- is being renovated and upgraded as part of a multi-year project. The entire upgrade is designed to meet campus-wide needs in an environmentally sound and economical manner for the next half century.
In addition, work valued at $700,000 was performed on the Richard Dana House at 24 Hillhouse Ave., one of three National Historic Landmark buildings on the Yale campus and home to the statistics department; $1.5 million was required to complete renovation of the Art and Architecture Building at 180 York St.; and a new roof costing $700,000 was installed at the Peabody Museum covering the Great Hall of Dinosaurs, one of Connecticut's most popular tourist attractions.