WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass., Sept. 4, 2007 - Williams College continued investing in its campus and its commitment to energy efficiency this summer as workers tackled approximately $136 million of building renovations and construction projects.

"This summer we have focused much of our efforts on sustainability and safety," Associate Vice President for Facilities and Auxiliary Services Irene Addison said. "Our new buildings are being constructed with a focus on green building including energy efficiency, recycling, and indoor air quality. We are committed to integrating the principles for sustainability into all of our projects."

A new Williams College Children's Center at 44 Whitman Street is near completion and slated for opening within the next few weeks. The new state-of-the-art center, designed by architectural firm D. W. Arthur Associates of Boston that specializes in early childhood design, replaces the Park Street childcare site. Two years of planning came before the construction of the 9,300-square-foot building, which took a year to build, said Christopher Williams, the college's project manager.

The children's center will provide high-quality care for children from infancy to pre-school age and offer a summer and after-school. The center is a partnership between the college and Child Care of Northern Berkshires, Inc.

The new single story building is located on about four acres and cost approximately $6.1 million. The center hosts seven classrooms, indoor play area, office space, a kitchen, and numerous child-size bathrooms. The building offers fiber optic communications connections. Parking areas, a driveway, and an expansive outdoor playground outfitted with new, child-friendly equipment and many plantings are part of the site.

A major, $128 million three-phase project involving construction of academic buildings and renovations and new construction of the Sawyer and Stetson libraries continues to move forward.

The project includes construction of two sites referred to as the North and South academic buildings, a Stetson Hall renovation that includes construction of a new library and center for media initiatives, and demolition of the Sawyer Library. Sawyer demolition will lead to creation of new green landscaped space.

Construction of the 58,000-square-foot North Academic Building was launched in March 2007 and construction of the 42,000-square-foot South Academic Building began in June, said project manager Bruce Decoteau. The structures are situated along the north and south sides of the existing Sawyer Library. Substantial construction completion is expected by August, 2008. Both buildings will house faculty and administration offices. The North building will include an archaeology lab, TA offices, and the faculty lounge.

Design development is underway for the Stetson Hall renovation and library construction, and Sawyer Library demolition is in the planning stages, Decoteau said.

"We hope to begin renovation of Stetson Hall in the late fall of 2008 and construction of the new library and IT space in the spring of 2009," he said. "Completion for that phase of the project is projected for Spring 2011."

Barr and Barr Builders Inc of Williamstown and New York City are the construction managers for the North and South buildings. Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects of Philadelphia are the architects for the three project phases.

A number of renovation and repair projects to make college buildings safer and extend their usable life are also nearing completion.

Fitch House, a student dormitory, experienced an exterior renovation as workers replaced terracotta and installed a new roof. College project manager Thomas Mahar said that the interior work included upgrading the fire alarm system and making the kitchen accessible. The project is about 95 percent completed, Mahar said. Fitch House railing installation and a patio renovation are scheduled for Spring Break, he said.

The Allegrone Masonry Company of Pittsfield, Mass. and the Douglas J. Wooliver and Sons Inc. roofing firm of Lanesboro, Mass., performed the masonry and roofing work. Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, and Baker Architects LLP of Albany N.Y. was the project architect. The Ryan-Biggs Associates PC firm of Albany, N.Y. was the project's consulting engineer.

Lasell Gymnasium at the corner of Spring and Main streets is undergoing a $500,000 interior renovation to expand the fitness center facilities, said college project manager Jason Moran. The work is very near completion and Moran expects to present the building during a Sept. 24 re-opening event.

"We have been giving the inside a face-lift and creating a more efficient space," said Moran, who served as the project general contractor. The 6,500-square-foot space, which was mostly open area, was treated to improved ventilation, new paint, a new floor, new carpeting, new efficient light fixtures, and installation of mirrors. The area is being made handicapped-accessible as well.

A Hoxsey Street/Stetson Court utility replacement project in cooperation with a town street renovation included a replacement of aging underground steam lines, an electrical duct bank, drainage work, and replacement of an underground east/west communications conduit beneath Stetson Court. The college portion of the project is nearly completed, project manager Bob Jarvis said.

The area between Williams Hall and Mission Park along the campus' north edge was the site of a 500-foot underground steam pipe replacement project and is near completion, project manager Donald Clark said. The David Krutiak Construction Co. of Adams and the Adams Plumbing and Heating firm of Adams were the project contractors.

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Founded in 1793, Williams College is the second oldest institution of higher learning in Massachusetts. The college's 2,000 students are taught by a faculty noted for the quality of their teaching and research, and the achievement of academic goals includes active participation of students with faculty in their research. Students' educational experience is enriched by the residential campus environment in Williamstown, Mass., which provides a host of opportunities for interaction with one another and with faculty beyond the classroom. Admission decisions are made regardless of a student's financial ability, and the college provides grants and other assistance to meet the demonstrated needs of all who are admitted. To visit the college on the Internet:www.williams.edu

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