Daniel Russoniello, Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

BY HANNAH PURKEY

In print | Published January 29, 2009

Construction of Scott Arboretum’s Wister Education Center and Greenhouse continues this semester as the foundation of the building is completed and the walls begin to rise. The construction of the new 5,200 square foot center began over the summer and is replacing a 25 year-old structure that was inadequate for the program’s goals, according to Jan Semler, the director of construction and planning at Swarthmore. “The existing structure was literally falling apart, not ADA-compliant, not energy efficient and woefully undersized for the Arboretum’s need to successfully grow and propagate plants,” Semler said.

Planning for the new building has taken into account the new needs of the education center and greenhouse. According to the Arboretum’s Web site, “The new center is essential to accomplishing Scott Arboretum’s goals for advancing horticulture display, plant evaluation, public education and volunteer support.”

The Arboretum staff first began planning the project in 1999, but it wasn’t until a 2002 self-survey of the Arboretum that the plans became more substantive, according to Semler. The American Association of Museums confirmed again the need for these updates during the Arboretum’s re-accreditation review in 2006. “The reviewers identified the need for the substandard existing facility to be improved and expanded to meet the standards of an accreditable organization,” Semler said.

Although the plans originally only accounted for a new greenhouse, an education center was also a priority for staffers. “Through the design process, it became apparent that the education mission of the Arboretum, including lectures, seminars and hands-on workshops, would benefit greatly by gaining expanded space in the same building as the greenhouse,” Semler said.

The entire project is estimated to cost $3.8 million, of which $2.5 million have already been raised over the past few years, according to the Arboretum’s Web site. Several foundations and trusts as well as 700 individuals have made donations, Semler said. Swarthmore has also contributed funds towards making the new structure more energy efficient. “The college has contributed about $235,000 towards features that will support sustainability and help the project earn LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council,” Semler said.

The cost of the project has risen from original projections of only $1.4 million, because commodities have become more expensive and the project has expanded, Semler said. However, donations have not tapered. “Donations to the annual year-end appeal in 2008 contributed $104,000, a 14 percent increase over last year, despite the current economic climate,” Semler said. Although other construction projects around campus have been put on hold because of the state of the economy, the college affirmed its support for the construction of the Arboretum’s new facilities in September. According to Claire Sawyers, director of the arboretum, though, two greenhouse rooms initially in the model had to be removed from the final project due to lack of funds.

In addition to the economic challenges, the project’s supporters have considered the inconvenience to Willets’ residents and other students. According to Assistant Dean for Residential Life Rachel Head, the project’s supporters have done everything possible to keep Willets’ residents aware of any disruptions that may arise before they occur.

Head, along with Semler, serves as a liaison between the project’s managers and the residents of Willets. “Sometimes we get notice of additional construction that might be a disruption to residents, and if we get that, we will try to let the residents know as early as possible,” Head said. “So far, however, we haven’t had any major complaints.” The only complaints Head has received were in response to an e-mail sent to Willets residents before construction began which notified students of upcoming construction. These complaints, the most recent of which she received in November, were mostly about the security concerns of having more people on campus and in such close proximity to the dorms, Head said.

“It was more of a proactive concern,” Head said. “I think students were expressing concern over the increased number of people around because of the Willets break-ins earlier in the year.” These student complaints were resolved with the administration’s assurances that the contractors employed would only be on campus during times of the day least inconvenient for students.

Security issues aside, some students have expressed concern over the noise caused by construction and the decrease in personal privacy. “I thought I was going to be bothered more by the construction noises, but so far I have been able to sleep through them,” said Annie Bockius-Suwyn ’10, a Willets resident whose room overlooks the construction site. “The only weird thing is that sometimes I’ll look out my window on the second floor, and there will be a bunch of construction workers there. On the first floor it is not as much of a problem because they are below the construction level, but here on the second floor we are essentially eye level with the workers.”

So far, the complaints and inconveniences have been minimal. Semler noted that the project managers have been careful to minimize the impact of the construction on the day-to-day student life — these are the same contractors that were used to construct Alice Paul and David Kemp. However, Head recognizes that it is possible that some students may be reluctant to complain. If this is the case, she strongly encourages students to share any concerns they may have. “I hope students come to us if they are frustrated,” Head said. “Even if we can’t implement changes on this project, they can be useful as a guide to future construction and are instructive nonetheless.”

« RETURN TO NEWS

« PREV ARTICLE | NEXT ARTICLE »