Now that the campers are gone, most students have returned and the construction projects have given way to pristine housing.
Charles Pratt, Hamilton and Porter Dormitory all opened on time and under budget, according to Tom Davies, Assistant Director for Design and Construction.
Hamilton and Porter, former fraternity houses, were closed all of last year for renovations. Charles Pratt, formerly the Natural History Museum, was never before a dormitory and opened after 18 months of construction.
With the opening of Charles Pratt, all first-year housing is now located on the Main Quadrangle, and the days of long treks to the mods are over for first-years.
"I couldn't be more pleased to see all of the [first-years] back on the Quad," said Torin Moore, Director of Residential Life. "I believe it makes for a great community to have everyone together in the same location and that it will only enhance the first-year student experience," she added.
Charles Pratt, which can house 117 students and one area coordinator, has received rave reviews. "The space is like some amazing kind of castle," said Josh Nathan '10, a Residential Counselor in Charles Pratt. "The common space and hallways are all very spacious, and the atrium setup of the dorm makes it feel very community-oriented. Views out the Memorial Hill side of the dorm are spectacular, and rooms are huge."
The Writing Center has moved from Grosvenor House to the first floor of Charles Pratt. It is located in a suite of offices that can be accessed through a separate entry to the right of the main entrance.
"The building is really nice, and it has the Writing Center in the first floor which is probably a great asset for [first-years] to have," said Carolina Alegria '11. "I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived because the rooms are all really nice and better than what I expected."
Because Charles Pratt was never before a dorm, it has a unique layout with a wide variety of room designs. "The building was originally designed as a gymnasium, with large open spaces to support the 'hygiene curriculum' of the 19th century," said Davies. "The greatest challenge was configuring the rooms within the existing building to make best use of the broad footprint of the building and the wide open spaces. The solution was to ring the exterior with mostly doubles, and to break down the large open atrium space in the center into study and lounge areas."
One of the more unique features of the dorm is split-level doubles. "Some of the rooms around the exterior had to work with existing changes of elevation; the answer was to create mini-duplex rooms with small staircases inside them," Davies explained.
On the lower floor of Charles Pratt, there is an all-campus performance and social space that is almost ready. It is located in the former dinosaur track room of the Natural History Museum, and can be accessed by a new plaza on the east side of the dorm, by the entrance to Merrill Science Center.
"The space can be used for catered events or can provide seating for speakers, poetry readings or performances (theater, dance, etc.)," said Heather Polson, Administrative Assistant for the Campus Center & Student Activities. "There will be a movable stage available, as well as a portable sound system for microphones. Students would be reserving the space by contacting me and once that step is complete, they gain access to the room with their key card when their reservation begins." Polson said the space will be available starting Sept. 17.
The Porter and Hamilton renovations are part of Phase 2 of the Residential Master Plan. "Phase 2 of the RMP will continue to renovate two off-campus dorms (the former fraternity dorms) each year for the next few years until they are all updated," Davies explained, "Simultaneously, we are starting the planning for the replacement of the Social Dorms. This is a significant project and the planning and design phase will likely require two years."
This year, the two dorms being renovated are Mayo-Smith
House and Charles Drew House. Construction will begin in a few weeks, and next year again, some students will be greeted by virtually brand new dorms.
"I think the best part about living in Hamilton is that it is a beautifully renovated dorm that still maintains the integrity of the previous structure," said Anne-Claire Roesch '08 the Residential Counselor of Hamilton. "It's exciting to live in the new Hamilton and it is sure to be a great living space for generations of Amherst students to come."