University officials took the next step towards a dramatic redesign of the Quadrangle last week when they began construction on this summer's phase of the renovation project.
According to Associate Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta, the coming months' work will consist of developing the Quad's infrastructure and mechanical systems, exterior work on the buildings and renovating the interior of portions of the Quad.
Moneta said that this summer's construction is both on schedule and on budget.
"This thing is really incredibly choreographed," he said.
Construction this summer is part of the University's $300 million, 10 year dorm-dining overhaul, which includes a $75 million Quad renovation project.
Plans include collapsing the Quad's existent four houses into three -- temporarily called College houses A, B and C.
This summer, the interior of College House B -- currently parts of Community and Spruce college houses -- will be renovated, providing residents with new bathrooms and air conditioning, among other things.
New public spaces such as lounges and computer labs will also be constructed in the next few months.
"Everything that we consider House B will have almost all of its interior done [this summer]," Moneta said.
Construction will end in time for student occupancy this fall, Moneta said.
Though the bulk of the work did not begin until the end of May, construction started in mid-April with the renovation of Memorial Tower -- the 37th Street entrance to the Quad.
Moneta said that construction will be ongoing this summer, noting that two shifts of workers will be employed, with hundreds of workers on each shift.
Next summer, the University will tackle the renovation of College House C, which will consist of parts of Spruce, Community and Ware college houses.
College House A -- made up of the parts of Ware and Goldberg college houses -- will be renovated in the summer of 2002. Workers will also refinish the floors of College House B and replace the house's furniture in summer 2001.
When construction is complete, the three houses will each have their own computer lab, music practice facilities, seminar and meeting space, library and exercise rooms.
A unique entrance will be built for each house, and a "nucleus" of space -- consisting of mailboxes, lounges, a lobby and office spaces -- will be constructed in every house.
Director of Housing and Conference Services Doug Berger said that the development of increased shared spaces in the renovation process will result in a net loss of 17 beds in the entire Quad.
However, he added that since the renovations will be complete by the arrival of occupants this fall, the construction will not affect Quad room assignments.
The Quad renovation project began last summer with historic preservation and infrastructure improvements and is slated to be done by 2002.
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