With the arrival of spring, two major construction projects will soon be in full swing. This message provides information regarding impacts to the campus related to that work, including roadways and parking.
Site work on Benton Hall, just below McGregory and Olin halls, will begin with erosion control and tree protection on Friday, April 7, 2017. Initial work in the month of April will include clearing, building excavation, formation and placement of footings, and utility work. Construction traffic will use the campus entrance between Campus Safety and 100 Hamilton Street to access the site.
Benton Hall Site Plan
Work on the two new residence halls on the upper campus above Stillman, Andrews, and O’Connor will begin on April 24, 2017, with installation of construction fencing and site preparation. Initial site work will include erosion control; tree protection, tree and hardscape removals and clearing; and utility work. Given the location on the hill, this project will involve extensive excavation work, which will start in mid-June. Beginning May 1, a temporary construction access road will be created to connect Hamilton Street to the site, running between the Gate House parking lot and the Observatory.
Residence Halls Site Plan
As announced by the University Property Committee in October 2016, these projects will unavoidably cause traffic and parking disruptions. The next impact involves the closure and removal of the 38-space parking lot above O’Connor Campus Center on May 22, 2017. An expansion of the Gate House parking lot will replace those 38 spaces, opening on August 7, 2017.
Inadequate parking is an acknowledged issue on campus, and the administration is taking steps to evaluate and address the problem where possible. In the meantime, please note campus parking guidelines and recognize that, when the lots on the upper campus are full, the following lots tend to be less populated, especially in the summertime: Lally Lane, 113 Broad Street, and the First-Year Lot between Tyler’s Field and Community Memorial Hospital.
In addition, the Colgate Cruiser is available for use by all members of the community. As announced last week, new routes and improvements have been introduced; you can find the route schedule online and on the Colgate Mobile App, which offers real-time GPS tracking. And, whenever feasible, carpooling or walking is a great way to reduce carbon emissions and get a little exercise, while helping minimize the number of cars on campus.
Everyone’s patience and cooperation is much appreciated as Colgate constructs these buildings that will greatly enhance the campus experience for our students.