Recently, campus has been full of the sounds of hammering, drilling, and heavy machinery making its way to two major construction projects that have been underway since April.
Field Dorm, one of the girls’ dorms located near the center of campus, was renovated over the summer. Kent has been upgrading one dorm each summer for the past three years, as part of a six-year rotation. This cycle began with Middle Dorm South, continued in North Dorm, and finally reached Field this past summer. Inside the dorms, the windows, the roof, the floors, and mechanical systems (such as air conditioning) were repaired. For common rooms and dorm rooms, new furniture and appliances were purchased. Additionally, a new faculty apartment was constructed on the first floor. Mr. Jeff Cataldo, the Associate Head of School, explains that Kent has been “very interested in improving the ratio of students per adult in [dormitories] to make sure that… better supervision” is provided for students. He emphasizes that all of these renovations are steps towards “more contemporary” and “welcoming” dorms that provide an engaging and safe on-campus life for students.
The second project was the Boardwalk. Mr. Cataldo describes the Boardwalk as “the primary passage from the center of campus to the back of campus, which all students use” daily. Plans for renovation were formed because the bluestone rocks of the Boardwalk were decaying and the roof of the Technology Center, located directly beneath the Boardwalk, was leaking. Though the space looks much the same, it is much more functional and will last for years to come. Moreover, new constructions in the RAD House quad near the Boardwalk–including a new patio and reconstruction of the open grass area–are in progress. “[The goal is] to make the landscape for the RAD house quad more inviting and interesting for students,” Mr. Cataldo says. “It’s an underutilized area; we plan on keeping that grass space but inviting some more activity there” for students. This space could be used for spirit activities and student events in the future.
Though these were the main projects of this year, renovations that are less visible were also made. North Court, one of the two courts in the athletic building used for basketball and volleyball, was repaired over the summer. These improvements addressed issues with leaks through the roof, dripping onto the court. The mechanical systems above the Dining Hall, which was responsible for providing refrigeration to the Servery, was replaced as well.
The behind-the-scenes considerations of these projects were just as strenuous as the actual constructions were. Identifications of necessary changes on campus occurred several years in advance. Subsequently, consideration of logistics such as hiring of workers, fundraising, purchasing materials, and planning construction time frame happened a year prior to the start of construction. Mr. Hirschfeld, the Head of School, described the main challenges that needed to be overcome: shortage of materials and workers. These challenges resulted in some delays.
Building onto these completed renovations, many significant projects are also in store for the future. Mr. Cataldo discussed how the next dorm in the rotation of dormitory upgrades is likely to be Case Dorm. Furthermore, other athletic spaces such as the gym and the pool will also be renovated to create more top-quality facilities promoting physical wellness for students. The final and most significant restoration planned is the expansion of the 90-year-old Chapel. Mr. Hirschfeld explains that he strongly believes “that the community would be strengthened by being able to listen to the same speaker all together,” whether for biweekly Chapel services or for special events. Mr. Hirschfeld aims to have these meaningful community-building projects completed in the next 3-5 years.
Though these renovations vary in scale, size, cost, and difficulty, all are united for the purpose of bettering Kent’s campus. Mr. Cataldo highlights that these projects strive to provide students with the best “experience [possible] and… benefit the community,” whether through creating new spaces for community bonding events, providing refrigeration for the Dining Hall, curating top-quality dorms, or rebuilding vital everyday pathways. However, he says, “Sometimes [differences] can be more difficult to see than others. You do a roof on top of the North Court, you’re not really seeing it or thinking much about it, but that’s done to make sure that our athletic program is as strong as it can be.” Big or small, all renovations contribute to a richer, fuller, higher-quality lifestyle at Kent.
In some way or another, renovations are meant to enhance the community, enforce safety, strengthen bonds, and properly allow Kent students, as future world citizens, to thrive. Through these thoughtful renovations, Kent continues to improve every day.
