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Major Planning and Capital Projects

Projects Summary

• Bolger House, admission building
• Artificial turf fields
• Rhodes Arts Center
• Lower soccer fields (Peller Family Field)
• Mary E. MacKinnon and Shea Family Cottages, student and faculty residences
• Utilities and infrastructure
• Landscape master plan: walks, roads, lighting, signage, entryway
• Athletic facilities
• Academic facilities
• Master planning
• Recent renovations
• Return to campus planning news

Bolger House, admission building (under construction)
The board of trustees approved a proposal for a new admission building. The strategically-chosen site is adjacent to the ninth-grade village on Cottage Row, between Memorial Chapel and Alumni Hall, with expansive views to Forslund and James Gym and the Rhodes Arts Center. It will serve as a place of orientation for prospective students and provide the ideal launching point for tours of the campus. In October 2006, David F. Bolger '50 gave the school $2.75 million towards the building, which will bear the Bolger name. Read more about Bolger's gift and a press release about the board's admission building announcement. Projected cost: $6 million

Childs Bertman Tseckares, Inc. (CBT) of Boston is the design firm.
Groundbreaking: May 2008
Target completion: July 2009

Artificial Turf Fields (completed fall 2008)
Artificial turf fields allow team practice in all weather conditions, having an immediate positive impact on both our current athletes and our admission recruitment efforts. Two multisport surfaces were installed, one on Thorndike Field and one on McLamore. These improvements will enhance the boys and girls lacrosse, field hockey, football, Ultimate Frisbee, and soccer programs. An alumnus and current parent has offered a generous pledge with an additional $19,780 match for any gift or pledge of $197,000 or more to the project. Project cost: $2.85 million

Architectural Resources Cambridge, Inc. (ARC) is the athletics master planner.
Daniel O'Connell's Sons (DOC) of Holyoke, MA, is the engineering firm.
Completed: Fall 2008

Rhodes Arts Center (opened September 2008)
This spectacular, 67,000 square foot building is located on the eastern edge of campus between Holbrook Hall and Forslund Gymnasium, where Recitation and Silliman Halls once stood. This significant project makes a powerful statement about our commitment to the arts and arts instruction and it creates interior and exterior spaces that draw the community together. Click here to read more about this project. Project cost: $29 million

Childs Bertman Tseckares, Inc. (CBT) of Boston is the design firm.
Groundbreaking: Summer 2006
Completed: Fall 2008
Gala opening: Spring 2009

Lower Soccer Fields (completed; Peller Field named)
A fundraising effort raised a total of $500,000 to name one of the two new lower soccer fields in honor of Coach Dick Peller. Coach Peller has been an influential presence on NMH athletic fields since 1976, when he began as head coach of the boys varsity soccer team. He coached the team until 1991; along the way the Hoggers won four Dunbar Cups, placed seven times in the top four at the New Englands, and won three New England championships. Coach Peller has also coached wrestling, tennis, baseball, and girls soccer. He is also a longtime math teacher. Click here to find out more.

Mary E. MacKinnon and Shea Family Cottages, residences for students and faculty (completed)
Two new cottage-style residences house 28 students and three faculty families each. They are comparable in scale, shape, and character to the other cottages and are predominately brick, with a stone foundation and details, and a slate roof. The buildings are an extension of cottage row just beyond Memorial Chapel. At a dedication ceremony in May 2006, the dorms were named in honor of two generous donors. They are now the Mary E. MacKinnon Cottage, thanks to the generosity of trustee Robert H. MacKinnon '53, and the Shea Family Cottage, due to the support of trustee William J. Shea Jr '72. Click here to learn more. Project cost: $4.5 million each

Sasaki Associates of Boston, MA was the design firm.
Erland Construction of Burlington, MA, completed this project.
Completed: September 2005

Utilities and infrastructure (completed)
Engineers conducted a comprehensive survey of the board-approved arts center site, including close examination of the major infrastructure lines running beneath it. It was determined that the lines, many of which were close to the end of their useful life, needed to be replaced before proceeding with the arts center planning. The board of trustees authorized cost and technical studies that showed that, with infrastructure improvements, the existing power plant can serve the future utility demands of our campus. This work was planned and completed with regard to environmental stewardship and energy efficiency. Project cost: $4 million

Daniel O'Connell's Sons (DOC) of Holyoke, MA, is the engineering firm.
Completed: Summer 2006

Landscape master plan (ongoing)
Landscape master planning includes site planning, grading, pedestrian walks and roadway planning, campus lighting, and signage. The planners are working closely with other architects and facilities planners.

Sasaki Associates of Boston is currently working on this project.

Athletic facilities (future projects)
The piggery fields on the lower campus were turned into two regulation soccer fields in spring 2006. In fall 2008, two artifical turf fields were installed, and six new tennis courts, located east of the hockey rink, were completed.

Long-term planning is underway for a full and appropriate set of athletic facilities upgrades and will be carried out in a multi-phased plan. Athletics facilities provide gathering spaces for community members—athletes and non-athletes alike—for events that are inclusive and build school spirit and pride.

Planned improvements include renovated fitness, training, and locker room facilities; a new ice rink and pool; and new boathouse. Overall project cost: TBD

Architectural Resouces Cambridge, Inc. (ARC) of Cambridge, MA, is the master planner for athletics facilities.
Completed: Spring 2006, two new soccer fields
Under construction: Fall 2008, two new artificial turf fields

Academic facilities (future projects)
Planning for enhancement and expansion of academic facilities including the library is ongoing. Together and individually, academic buildings are being studied for their effectiveness in providing spaces that support academic excellence and our strategic goals including interdisciplinary teaching and learning; integrating technology seamlessly into our pedagogy and facilities; supporting environmental awareness and global awareness; and capitalizing on the synergies of relationships among our gathered community.

Master campus and facilities planning (ongoing)
We are creating a physical layout that supports a closer-knit community and enhances our academic and residential program objectives by improving and developing facilities appropriately and making the campus more pedestrian-friendly.

Recent renovations

• Cottages II and IV―Enclosed stairwells added to allow future expansion of the buildings while also improving access; architecturally appropriate additions.
• Signage―The first phase of new campus signage has been installed, including at the main entryway.
• Infrastructure―Two major steam lines replaced; energy efficiency as a result expected to improve from 50 to 98 percent.
• Roadways―New entryway creates a scenic welcome for visitors who now arrive at the center of campus; reconfigured roads improve vehicular circulation and pedestrian safety; first phase of new signage system installed.
• Landscaping―An alley of elm trees (disease-resistant cultivar) grace the academic arc from Cutler to Overtoun Hall; new walkways, stone walls, outdoor lighting enhance the Rhodes Arts Center.
• Norton House―2,500 square foot addition, including elevator.
• Crossley Hall―heating system upgraded; new carpets laid and interiors painted; new roof installed, chimneys rebuilt, barrel tops to chimneys replaced; student bathrooms refurbished
• Hayden Hall―new windows and siding installed, interiors and exterior painted and new carpets installed, student kitchenette refurbished, student bathrooms refurbished
• Wallace and Cottages I, II, IV, V―refreshed with new paint, carpet, and furniture
• North Farmhouse and Rikert―both brought back on line as dormitories, with necessary refurbishments
• Music Building―minor interior modifications made including new carpeting and paint; indoor air quality addressed with dehumidification system
• Alumni Hall―new walk-in freezer installed; alumni class photo gallery hung
• Cutler Science Building―foyer and basement classrooms painted and brighter lighting installed; Tanberg digital learning lab relocated from Northfield; digital photography and video classrooms painted and rewired
• James and Forslund Gyms—new basketball backboards and padding on walls installed, new lines and logo on floor painted, bleachers refurbished and made code-compliant, new display cases in lobby installed, public and locker rest rooms refurbished, abatement of asbestos floors completed, new floors installed
• Schauffler/Rockey Library—information commons created, stacks rearranged, new carpeting installed, interior spaces painted