"[It is] a resounding success," said Professor of Fine Arts and American Studies Carol Clark.
"It's fantastic-much better than we had imagined," said Professor of Fine Arts Nicola Courtright, who chairs the department.
Courtright described the Fayerweather of just a few months ago as "ragged, run-down and dark, without the proper facilities."
While the design team took pains to preserve the building's character, according to Courtright, it was still able to make important and practical changes.
"We wanted to make the renovations ascetic-very plain and simple," Courtright added. "We wanted to give it the character of an old science building, not a she-she art building. Our goal was to give it a beautiful but understated character. It should keep the memory of what it was before."
Clark said that she believes the renovation has already had a noticeable impact on her classes. "The spaces in which we teach retain the character of the 'old' building, but are updated with working heat and air exchange so we can concentrate on images and ideas without the distractions of an inadequate building," she said.
"I think the renovations are wonderful," said Jennifer Rada '04. "The new lecture hall is beautiful and the building no longer looks run-down and dingy."
Clark, who, along with her colleagues in the fine arts department, participated in the design decisions, credited President Tom Gerety, Dean of the Faculty Lisa Raskin and Director of Facilities, Planning and Management Jim Brassord for their roles in the project. She also attributed the success of the renovation to Assistant Director for Design and Construction Tom Davies, Capital Project Manager Mark Tassinari and architect Christopher Tavener.
Renovations to Fayerweather began last Spring. The building was built in 1899 to house the physics department.