The past three months marked a period of substantial construction across Tufts' campuses, during which the university pursued over 60 projects as part of an annual renovation process.
The largest projects on the Medford/Somerville campus include renovations to Halligan Hall and Cohen Auditorium, as well as the completion of the Lawrence S. Bacow and Adele Fleet Bacow Sailing Pavilion, according to Director of Project Administration and University Maintenance Rudi Pizzi.
Director of Facilities Services Bob Burns explained that these projects are part of a yearly process and are planned out well in advance.
"We have to do most of the construction during the summer when the students are away," Burns said. "We begin almost the summer prior, investigating deficiencies in various buildings. Over the winter, we order ... whatever new material is needed. After Commencement, we begin the next day."
A complete refurbishing of Halligan aims to make more efficient use of the building that formerly housed much of the school's athletics.
"When the Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center opened last fall, the Athletics Department moved out of Halligan Hall next door and into the new facility, leaving 10,000 square feet of space for the School of Engineering," the construction information sheet reads. "That area is being transformed into classrooms and offices. In addition, the front of Halligan Hall will get new windows, and its masonry will be restored."
In Cohen Auditorium, workers replaced the ceiling and floor, reapplied wall paint and furnished the building with a new roof, mechanical system, lighting and seating. The renovated seating and stage will be more accessible for people with disabilities.
According to the Tufts Technology Services website, renovations for Cohen are scheduled to be completed in early October.
The final major project - to complete the Bacow Sailing Pavilion on Upper Mystic Lake - will provide enhanced equipment and space for members of the Tufts community interested in sailing.
"The [Sailing Pavilion] project will provide space for Tufts' fleet of 44 boats, a carpenter's shop, locker rooms for home and visiting teams, a function room for team meetings and an observation deck for viewing practices and regattas," the information sheet explains.
University employees also began work on several residential buildings, including exterior repairs to Carmichael Hall, landscaping restoration in front of Carmichael and Miller Halls and bathroom renovations inside Haskell and Wren Halls.
Other plans included the completion of numerous two-year projects, such as replacing the exterior sealants of Tisch Library and exchanging the mechanical systems and windows of the Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center.
On the Grafton campus, workers established a new sheep barn at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. In downtown Boston, the School of Medicine's Biomedical Research and Public Health Building is undergoing exterior restoration, on track for completion in November.
Pizzi expressed his satisfaction with the results of the construction and believes that the extensive preparation has paid off visibly.
"Construction progress has been fast paced this summer," he said. "Many of the challenges were met early on with long-term planning that allowed us to get off to a good start in early May."
Burns stressed the need for the school to sustain construction projects such as these on a regular basis.
"Buildings need to be 'freshened up,' if you will," he said. "Like anything else, you need to put money back into the facilities or else they end up looking tired. We want to have our facilities be in good shape and reflect the standards of a world-class university."
