In the center of campus, a busy team of construction workers is currently implementing a $20 million expansion on New London Hall. By the fall of 2012, the project is supposed to convert the building into a cutting-edge center for life and computer sciences. Connecticut College is celebrating its centennial year by revitalizing the oldest building on campus.
Of course, a project of this magnitude cannot be undertaken without short-term sacrifices. There are obvious monetary costs for the college and many students and faculty are temporarily inconvenienced by the project. However, I believe the long-term benefits of the new science facility will outweigh the cons.
One of the problems is certainly the general crowding issue that has been a result of the construction site. The large, fenced-off area in the center of campus has been forced to swallow some of the nearby roads and sidewalks in order to give the crews adequate space for their work. This creates a few annoyances while driving, especially if you happen to be driving a cement mixer that is trying to fight its way past the heavy pedestrian traffic between classes.
The most noticeable annoyance is the Tempel Green fence. At the northwest corner of the construction area, there is an extra hundred or so feet of fence that extends from the site westward until about halfway across the north end of the Tempel Green. I have yet to speak to a single person who could discern the reason for the placement of this stretch of fencing. It serves no visible purpose and doesn’t fence off any area. It simply forces students to walk the extra distance around it. I have to conclude that the construction workers simply had additional fencing left over when they originally fenced off the site. This extra fencing was set up along the north end of the Tempel Green, apparently due either to boredom or a need to seem busy. This fence inconveniences students. Walking around it takes longer and is irritating.
Am I being lazy in saying this? Perhaps, but I feel that my opinion would change quickly if I was ever presented with a legitimate reason for the fence’s location. Until then, I reserve my right to be lazy about it.
The construction site also makes a lot of noise. You tend to notice this if you are a resident of Blackstone, like me. Fortunately, the site is inactive during the night. However, if you happen to be a light sleeper who loves to sleep in or someone trying to study during the day, you’re out of luck. I don’t fall into either of these categories myself, but it’s likely that many other students do.
The noise also tends to be very distracting during classes. I have two classes in Fanning Hall and the noises can be rather disruptive. Professors have to talk over the banging of hammers and the incessant beeping of large vehicles moving in reverse. Many professors’ classes were completely uprooted by the project as well.
While the current state of affairs is less than optimal, I believe it is a more than reasonable price to pay for a brand new science center. By next fall, we should have our roads and sidewalks back, our professors will be back in their offices, there will be peace and quiet and an awesome new science center will sit right across from Olin. As a freshman, do I see this project as a negative reflection on the college? Not at all: it shows Conn’s commitment to progress. •
Photos courtesy of Tanaha Simon
