Wentworth Expansion

[stellarfun]

Wentworth plans $128M campus expansion
By Thomas Grillo, Boston Herald April 9, 2009

Wentworth Institute of Technology has proposed an ambitious $127.6 million expansion of its Mission Hill campus.

The 105-year-old school that specializes in architecture, computer science and design has filed plans with the Boston Redevelopment Authority for a Student Life Center, a 260-bed dormitory, a 40,000-square-foot addition to accommodate new classrooms and studios, and a parking garage.

If approved by the city, the redeveloped campus would include a four-story student center, gallery, fitness center and game room.

The six-story residences would be built at 525 Huntington Ave. and will offer dorms for up to 395 students.

A four-story addition of classroom space and a 400-car parking garage would be built on Parker Street.

Wentworth also wants to construct two buildings of up to 14 stories that would contain up to 650,000 square feet of office and research space at Sweeney Field.http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1164611&format=text

[vanshnookenraggen]

525 Huntington Ave is where that triangle of land near the MFA is. They spent some $ to build a park but I always felt that it would make a great triangular building (Kinda like MassPharm up the road).

This expansion has been talked about since I was there in 2002-04 so I'm glad to see some progress.

I'm interested to see what they do with Sweeney Field as well. It seemed like such a nice open space, well defined and set up to show off WIT's main buildings. I think originally they were going to build new classroom space on a parking lot further down Parker St but perhaps they will build a new sports center there instead (it is a bigger lot than the current Sweeney Field.)

[czsz]

That park never belonged across from the MFA; the vista from the front steps always looked unbalanced. I'm glad something's being built there.

That said, this is a massive expansion for an institution like this. I bet they can't do all of it.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Well they will probably do it piece by piece. I mean they had pretty ambitious plans when I was there and they've only built one new dorm since then. But they also spent time gathering the land they need. Since they didn't give a time table I'd say 10-15 years for it all to get done sounds about right.

[underground]

I'm a little confused; are they building two buildings (260 beds + 395 beds = 655 beds) or are they building one building with 260 beds (bringing their total to 395 beds)? If they are in fact building 655 new beds, that sounds like a huge increase for them. Is there really that much interest and money for this? Is Wentworth now the Northeastern of 10 years ago, BU of 20 years ago, and BC of 30 years ago?

[vanshnookenraggen]

I think the Herald has it's numbers messed up. It is one dorm for 395 students, probably 290 bed rooms (roomates and all). I think this has more to do with getting students out of off campus housing rather than expanding. WIT doesn't have that many dorms and the ones they have are old and crappy (except the 2 newer ones.)

[atlantaden]

That park never belonged across from the MFA; the vista from the front steps always looked unbalanced. I'm glad something's being built there.


An existing park in Boston lost to institutional expansion? Will this pass muster with the neighbors who probably now see this park as their own private yard?

Go Wentworth!

[BarbaricManchurian]

you'll here a major uproar in 5 years, when this actually goes u/c and the neighbors say "they never told us!" even though there will be probably dozens of neighborhood meetings.

[...create]

I am little confused. I really don't think that Wentworth is going to build on Sweeney Field. The sports program is a very important aspect of the school. Plus Wentworth make makes money off of the field by leasing time to other schools. That field is not even 10 years old. 525 Huntington is where the gas station used to be between Huntington and Vancouver. They are definitely building there. Has the plan changed? The last scheme that I saw, There was to be a ice rink built in a parking lot on Parker street.

[vanshnookenraggen]

An existing park in Boston lost to institutional expansion? Will this pass muster with the neighbors who probably now see this park as their own private yard?

Go Wentworth!

Well the field is property to WIT, not a public park, and the only "residents" are students, so I really see no problem here.

[ablarc]

Huntington Avenue: so much potential, such an arid wasteland!

[czsz]

What would you do with it?

[vanshnookenraggen]

Huntington Avenue: so much potential, such an arid wasteland!

It's not the wasteland it used to be. It is slowly coming to life, more so than a lot of places in the city, even Boylston St. When I lived there it was dangerous to go to Brigham Circle and now that place is happening.

[bbfen]

It's not the wasteland it used to be. It is slowly coming to life, more so than a lot of places in the city, even Boylston St. When I lived there it was dangerous to go to Brigham Circle and now that place is happening.

Between Mass Ave and Brigham, I actually think that one of the worst stretches on Huntington (for a pedestrian) is in front of the MFA!

Brigham's sheer force of will seems to be working, that mile or so through there is much safer than even five years ago, and now this construction project announced to fill in one of the holes. Good stuff, in my opinion.

[czsz]

It's a better "Avenue of the Arts" than Philadelphia's, at any rate, and it looks much spiffier with the E line upgrade and the new trees that went in over the last few years. With the trolleys and fin-de-siecle art institutions, it's a bit like Boston's Ringstrasse (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringstrasse).

If it were possible, I'd band together the street's institutions into a sort of BID that could fund relevant street art - maybe showcasing recent works by students at MassArt or somehow showcasing the music at Symphony and Jordan Halls (through video installations, maybe?) More than just banners, at any rate.

[TomOfBoston]

Well the field is property to WIT, not a public park, and the only "residents" are students, so I really see no problem here.

But it is GREEN space, property rights be damned! This is Boston, did you just get off the bus from Oshkosh?

[ablarc]

What would you do with it?
Haussmannize it.

It's the perfect candidate.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Haussmannize it.

Oh, that's your answer to everything. :)

[ablarc]

Streetwalls of Paris (http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=1936)

[czsz]

It's already pretty much got a street wall, hasn't it? Or is in the process of acquiring it where it doesn't.

[vanshnookenraggen]

It's been building over the years. The biggest breaks are at the CSC/the shitty little motel and at the MFA/Sweeney Field.

Honestly it's a pretty solid stretch of road. I've walked it many times and it's always been fine by me.

[blade_bltz]

So...525 is where someone just spent lots of money to do:

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/314/img7147gi4.jpg

Why?

[vanshnookenraggen]

Doesn't look like they spent too much $. Also keep in mind this was a gas station so it is going to take some time and money to clean up the site. It is possible that's what the park was put there for, by which I mean they cleaned up the site and built the park to use it for something until they knew they had the money to build a dorm. They would want a park for PR purposes since they are trying to attract new students.

I also remember the school wanted to demolish the dorms that are in that picture next to the firehouse. It's possible that the new dorms will replace these (which are in pretty bad shape.)

[PaulC]

Meeting May 13th:

Wentworth IMPNF Public Meeting
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm


Division-Department: Economic Development - BRA
Description: Meeting to discuss the Wentworth IMPNF
Location: Faculty/Staff Dining Room in Beatty Hall on the Wentworth Campus
Neighborhood: Mission Hill
Contact: Katelyn Sullivan at (617)918-4425
Email: Katelyn.Sullivan.BRA@cityofboston.gov
http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/calendar/scheduledet.asp?EventID=2119

[JohnAKeith]

A short 18-months after announcing plans, master plan passes.

This story says the playing fields across from the MFA will be relocated - so will more buildings be coming to Huntington?

Also, I've long wondered why WIT didn't expand quickly during the past two decades. My data shows it had an enrollment of 4,000 students in 1998 and ... 3,880 students in 2009.

Building a reputation
Wentworth reveals 10-year plan to expand campus, raise profile
By Casey Ross
Boston Globe

The Wentworth Institute of Technology is plotting a decade-long expansion of its campus along Huntington Avenue in Boston that will result in construction of hundreds of dorm rooms, a student recreation facility, and several new engineering and science laboratories.

The expansion plan was ironed out during years of community discussions and reflects Wentworth?s gradual evolution from a commuter school. The larger campus should also help raise Wentworth?s profile in a part of the city dominated by Northeastern University and the Longwood Medical Area.

Wentworth said it expects to start construction on two projects in the spring: renovation and expansion of an academic building on Parker Street and the addition of a new student facility at Beatty Hall in the center of campus. Over the longer term, the institute intends to add a seven-story dorm on Huntington Avenue and a new engineering building, and relocate its athletic fields to Parker Street from the current site across from the Museum of Fine Arts.

?It comes down to making a better Wentworth and providing the amenities our students want to have on campus,?? said David Wahlstrom, head of planning and construction at the college, which has a full-time undergraduate enrollment of about 3,400 students.

Wentworth?s academic program focuses on science and technology disciplines, providing majors in civil engineering, architecture, and interior design, for example. It also offers evening classes in construction management, welding, facilities management, and other areas.

Overall, enrollment has increased by about 200 students over the last five years, and Wentworth officials expect it to continue growing gradually during the next decade. In recent years, Wentworth has focused on housing more of its students and providing a more traditional college setting, with on-campus activities. It constructed a pair of dormitories on Huntington Avenue that added about 800 beds, with the most recent building completed in 2005. The college also acquired two gas stations in the area and converted those sites into parks.

Wentworth?s expansion plan was scheduled to be voted on last night by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. City officials have offered preliminary support for Wentworth?s proposal.

?This will mean construction jobs, improvements to the campus, and the development of an important institution in the city,?? said BRA director John Palmieri. ?That they?re kicking off two new projects next year is terrific news.??

During the last several years, the city?s colleges have been a center of growth while few other organizations or businesses have been willing to spend on new buildings. Berklee College of Music and Suffolk University recently announced downtown expansion plans; the University of Massachusetts has been exploring the construction of new dormitories in Dorchester; and Harvard has continued to build new facilities in Allston.

Wentworth will largely focus on land it already owns. Currently the campus is spread across about 40 acres off Huntington Avenue, where it occupies some 35 buildings. Next year's projects will update a pair of older masonry buildings with sleek glass additions. The architecture firm Perkins + Will designed an expansion that will double the size of the Ira Allen academic building, to 36,000 square feet, and Spagnolo Gisness & Associates crafted a 7,000 square-foot addition on Beatty Hall, a now gray boxy structure that will fitted with an expansive glass-walled student center. The projects together will cost about $22 million.

In addition to the academic and residential buildings, Wentworth will add walking paths, upgrade plazas and green space, and build a new bicycle storage cage and other facilities to improve transportation connections with surrounding neighborhoods.

?We?re going to be opening up the campus and doing more landscaping,?? said Wahlstrom, the head of planning and construction. ?We want to strengthen the walkways coming into the central campus and make it more appealing for neighbors and students.??

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/12/15/wentworth_reveals_plan_to_expand_campus_raise_prof ile/

[datadyne007]

This has been quite exciting news on campus. We have such an outdated and non-handicap accessible campus that makes it really sad to show to prospective students and their parents. Beatty is probably the largest problem on campus now that Wentworth Hall had the elevator put in years ago.

The handicap ramp for Beatty is in the loading dock entrance with a very steep non-ADA slope. It desperately needs an accessible entrance from the quad. You know your building is bad when one of the sophomore studio projects is to design an addition to the front of Beatty with a new elevator and circulation paths. As it stands now, Beatty's vertical circulation occurs entirely via fire stairs. There are no connections between floors at all, besides the grand library double-height space with the mezzanine stair, but no connection from lobby to library. This building is now their main priority.

I can also appreciate their desire to strengthen outdoor circulation, anchored by this grand glass-box student center at the center of it. Wentworth has a VERY strong circulation (and organizational) datum line that stretches from the design studios on Parker to the Res campus on Huntington. We were worried what was going to happen after the 60-year master plan got thrown in the trash. This focused effort will bring enough substance for Wentworth to grow in the "immediate" future (Beatty is supposed to start next year sometime, last they told us)

[KentXie]

Hmmm I wonder where will the lacrosse/soccer team of NU will relocate to now. Maybe they will finally build a stadium. Yeah that won't happen.

[datadyne007]

Hmmm I wonder where will the lacrosse/soccer team of NU will relocate to now. Maybe they will finally build a stadium. Yeah that won't happen.
I actually like Sweeney Field's location and landscaping. It doesn't really belong there, but it's nice as a prominent feature of Huntington and provides entertainment when passing by. On my frantic runs to UHop (better pizza than Il Mondo), I frequently find myself stopping to watch some soccer.

I'd prefer the Parker St. lot to be developed like they had proposed for the 60-year plan. Having campus buildings there would be more convenient (Annex studios are next door, Beatty and Tansey are right there across Parker, etc), but it's a heck of a lot more dangerous. It would just be a pain if we had to treck all the way to the other side of Wentworth Hall and across Ruggles from the quad/campus center. What I liked the most about Wentworth and why I eventually chose it was the tight knit campus and proximity of buildings. Time is money, especially around final crit time.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Overall, enrollment has increased by about 200 students over the last five years

200 students? That seems laughable, maybe a type?

I hadn't been following this as closely as when I went to WIT. So what is happening with the old firehouse?

Edit: UHop!!

[datadyne007]

200 students? That seems laughable, maybe a type?
No. It's right. Our departments are very small and focused. They are growing inch by inch every year. Consider the size and restrictions of our campus. Adding 200 students is a big undertaking. Architecture is the largest, accounting for 1/3 of the WIT day-students.

...and we're suffering from it too. Anyone who has had a class in WENTW-312 can attest to that. 28 desks in a room that is essentially a large closet.

UPDATE!

Official letter from the President:

Dear Wentworth Community,

As many of you are aware, the Institute?s master planning process, which began in January 2008, identified a need for the development of new facilities and the renovation of existing buildings. The primary needs include the expansion and modernization of instructional facilities to keep the Institute?s academic programs at the forefront of technology, and the addition of dormitory, recreational, athletic, and campus life facilities to enhance the campus experience and to motivate additional members of the student body to reside on campus rather than in surrounding neighborhoods.



The City of Boston requires each institution to provide a comprehensive report, an Institutional Master Plan (IMP), which describes the proposed projects and related impacts as part of a ten-year development plan. The following five projects were proposed as part of Wentworth?s IMP:

* The Flanagan Campus Center at Beatty Hall
* 18,000-square-foot academic addition to and renovation of the Ira Allen Building
* New seven-story student residence at 525 Huntington Avenue to house 305 students
* 45,000-square-foot Center for Engineering & Technology (in place of Willson Hall)
* New soccer field on a single-level deck above 330 surface parking spaces

Yesterday, the IMP approval process achieved a significant milestone as the Boston Redevelopment Authority unanimously approved Wentworth?s IMP.

Of the five projects identified in Wentworth?s IMP, the construction of a campus center (The Flanagan Campus Center) and an academic addition to and renovation of the Ira Allen Building are slated for groundbreaking in the late spring.

As currently envisioned, The Flanagan Campus Center at Beatty Hall will include the construction of a 7,000-square-foot, two-story addition and the renovation of approximately 23,000 square feet of existing space. The central goal of this project is to increase the quality and quantity of space available for student activities and events within this facility, and allow for a substantial increase in the number of supervised student activities and social events which can be held on campus each semester. These new programs will strengthen the attractiveness of Wentworth?s student residences and will serve to keep more students on campus during nights and weekends.

The second project, a 18,000-square-foot, three-story addition to the rear of the Ira Allen Building will provide new state-of-the-art chemistry, physics, biomedical engineering, biology, and material science laboratories, classroom space, and offices for Wentworth?s math and science curriculum. The development of this new facility will allow academic departments to significantly improve the instructional technology and lab equipment utilized in the learning environment.

It?s exciting to note that both of these projects will serve as a learning lab for Wentworth students, as co-op opportunities will be available on each of the projects.

Finally, I thought you might be interested in a story published in today?s Boston Globe, highlighting Wentworth?s development plans.

Sincerely,

Zorica Pantić, Ph.D.

President

[KentXie]

I actually like Sweeney Field's location and landscaping. It doesn't really belong there, but it's nice as a prominent feature of Huntington and provides entertainment when passing by. On my frantic runs to UHop (better pizza than Il Mondo), I frequently find myself stopping to watch some soccer.

I'd prefer the Parker St. lot to be developed like they had proposed for the 60-year plan. Having campus buildings there would be more convenient (Annex studios are next door, Beatty and Tansey are right there across Parker, etc), but it's a heck of a lot more dangerous. It would just be a pain if we had to treck all the way to the other side of Wentworth Hall and across Ruggles from the quad/campus center. What I liked the most about Wentworth and why I eventually chose it was the tight knit campus and proximity of buildings. Time is money, especially around final crit time.

I agree too but doesn't the Wentworth athletics squads also play there? Maybe this will force NU to spruce up Carter's Playground. Doubt it will be any better than Parson's field though. But I won't be surprise if both squads end up using that facility.

[datadyne007]

I agree too but doesn't the Wentworth athletics squads also play there? Maybe this will force NU to spruce up Carter's Playground. Doubt it will be any better than Parson's field though. But I won't be surprise if both squads end up using that facility.
Yeah, of course. We own it, lol. NEU has hated us for years because of that fact.

I just posted an update from the President about the official plans. It notes a field ON TOP of the Parker St. parking lot.

[TomOfBoston]

I agree too but doesn't the Wentworth athletics squads also play there? Maybe this will force NU to spruce up Carter's Playground. Doubt it will be any better than Parson's field though. But I won't be surprise if both squads end up using that facility.

Does Northeastern own Carter playground? I thought the city owned it.

[Lurker]

The city owns Carter Field, it would be a third rail for NU to even think of touching it when many abutting university owned parking lots and garages lay fallow.

[KentXie]

The city owns Carter Field, it would be a third rail for NU to even think of touching it when many abutting university owned parking lots and garages lay fallow.

True. In that case maybe NEU can developed the Ruggles Parking Lot and build an underground garage to replace the lost space.

[Mayor Menino's Crohn's]

From the Boston Redevelopment Authority


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_MUujHW3QrDc/TQfbIAts6lI/AAAAAAAAAGE/pAu5KoxxX-E/s1600/Beatty+Hall.jpg

[datadyne007]

http://witbeattyhallrenovation.wordpress.com/

Also:

http://witbeattyhallrenovation.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/2010-1018-rendering-quad-view.jpg
http://witbeattyhallrenovation.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/2010-1105-ground-level-plan.jpg
http://witbeattyhallrenovation.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/2010-1105-level-1-plan.jpg
http://witbeattyhallrenovation.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/2010-1105-section-study-01.jpg
http://witbeattyhallrenovation.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/2010-1105-section-study-02.jpg


This is what the original mess of a building looks like:
http://witbeattyhallrenovation.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/floor-plans-of-beatty-hall-1.jpg
http://witbeattyhallrenovation.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/floor-plans-of-beatty-hall-2.jpg

[vanshnookenraggen]

Lipstick on a pig. They really need to just raze the thing.

[datadyne007]

Lipstick on a pig. They really need to just raze the thing.

They're pretty much gutting level G and 1. Beatty is great in terms of its structure, but that's it. I think it's actually a nice working of the interior space because those massive columns have to stay there.

[Lurker]

Can't raze an academic building when there is insufficient space elsewhere on campus to temporarily relocate functions during demolition and reconstruction.

[found5dollar]

that is kinda ugly.

[bdurden]

It's not terrible -- it's just shortsighted if the institute is looking for redevelopment opportunity. Perhaps the most prominent location on campus, you would imagine they'd want to utilize this space to it's fullest potential.

[datadyne007]

I highly recommend that anyone passing by the MFA area to stop into the lobby of Wentworth Hall to view all of WIT's new master plan buildings and the revised master plan itself. They have new renderings of the Beatty expansion, the Ira Allen atrium, the new res hall at 525 Huntington Ave, and the new Sweeney Field on Parker St.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=550+Huntington+Ave+02115&sll=42.261579,-71.11375&sspn=0.009639,0.024354&g=550+Huntington+Ave+Boston+MA&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=550+Huntington+Ave,+Boston,+Massachusetts+02 115&ll=42.337036,-71.094149&spn=0.002407,0.006089&t=h&z=18

[TomOfBoston]

If Sweeney Field is to be relocated, what will that site be used for? Could they be considering selling it to.......Northeastern?

[datadyne007]

If Sweeney Field is to be relocated, what will that site be used for? Could they be considering selling it to.......Northeastern?

No no no. Never. That site was planned to be developed into an academic building as part of the first IMP, but it has been categorized as "Potential Future Development" in the most recent IMP.

Btw guys, Beatty starts May 16!! Parts will open and close in phases over the next 2 years.

[datadyne007]

Hey guys, Beatty and Ira Allen are well underway now!

Beatty (Flannigan Campus Center): Prelim sitework/interior demo. Front stairs are FINALLY being removed next week!!
Beatty Webcam (http://myweb.wit.edu/netops/beattycam.html)

Ira Allen (Center for Sciences and Biomedical Engineering): Pile driving phase, with the interior completely gutted. Elevator removed.
Ira Allen Webcam (http://myweb.wit.edu/netops/iracam.html)



Keep an eye on the Ira Allen job site for these upcoming milestones:

· Pile driving to continue
· Site utilities
· Basement level slab removal
· Interior demolition

Please check our website for updates and additional project information
http://myweb.wit.edu/planning_const/development/Active jobs/Ira Allen.htm

And find us on Facebook to keep in touch as well
http://www.facebook.com/IraAllenProject

[datadyne007]

Beatty!! (These should bring a smile to your face, Van!)

Held my phone over the fence, stairs are GONE!!!!:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-c8XPnndNzKE/Tjv9MfZeVkI/AAAAAAAAAJU/fuWmRaWxogk/s1024/2011-08-05_09-54-20_867.jpg

Front wall of one of the group study rooms in the library has been torn out:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0A7nWXQJCmk/Tjv6qisUYCI/AAAAAAAAAJM/5X2h1qtjD64/s1024/2011-08-05_09-54-42_896.jpg

I've always loved the coffered ceilings:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3uqYArLOT0c/Tjv37XDhkLI/AAAAAAAAAI0/_PjhDKRURQM/s1024/2011-08-05_09-55-04_715.jpg

Next one just came down!
http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/284145_10150749212280454_796940453_20068889_528267 4_n.jpg

[vanshnookenraggen]

Ha! You know I saw the picture before your comment and I actually did smile :) .

What are they doing again? It's been so long since I've seen a rendering.

[datadyne007]

Ha! You know I saw the picture before your comment and I actually did smile :) .

What are they doing again? It's been so long since I've seen a rendering.

Glass box on both sides. Renders are on prev pg.

[datadyne007]

Ira Allen (Center for Sciences and Biomedical Engineering) is really getting cool now:

Conc. formwork
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/299851_262514877105257_183207238369355_797698_9029 34235_n.jpg

Steel rebar
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/317524_262514943771917_183207238369355_797700_1074 469439_n.jpg

3rd fl ductwork
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300931_262515003771911_183207238369355_797702_5388 46291_n.jpg

Conc. formwork
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309786_262515053771906_183207238369355_797704_1948 331671_n.jpg

Basement slab pour
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/254682_252208288135916_183207238369355_766116_2994 95_n.jpg

3rd fl ductwork
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/313209_252208331469245_183207238369355_766117_5936 500_n.jpg

Pile cap formwork
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/306721_252208381469240_183207238369355_766118_6216 12_n.jpg

Pile cap formwork
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/300511_252208431469235_183207238369355_766119_2790 074_n.jpg

Completed pilecaps
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/315050_252208471469231_183207238369355_766120_3654 388_n.jpg

[cden4]

Why does every building have to look like an Apple Store now? Ugh.

[datadyne007]

Also of note is that since Ira Allen and some of Beatty are unable to be used, Wentworth is holding classes in the Greek Orthodox Church on Parker St (2 rooms) and there's also a massive set of portable classrooms on the (Wentworth Hall) Front Lawn. The portables didn't pass inspection the first time, lol.

[datadyne007]

Beatty!!! (Flanagan Campus Center)

These were taken by the Dean, Annamaria Wenner. The soft-opening of the ground floor of Flanagan is March 12.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/432087_622523166840_41901270_32423942_1949424428_n .jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417145_622523241690_41901270_32423946_153237057_n. jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430700_622523062050_41901270_32423937_1023303554_n .jpg

Looking into the fitness center. No more exposed concrete coffers.
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/427332_622523201770_41901270_32423943_415113330_n. jpg

New seating area of the new cafeteria.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430188_622523226720_41901270_32423945_1414575251_n .jpg

Badly needed new elevator!
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404843_622523126920_41901270_32423941_1417777146_n .jpg

[vanshnookenraggen]

I recognize those old bones. Thanks for these.

[BeeLine]

Two recent photos of Beatty Hall and one of the Ira Allen Building.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beelinebos/6872817245/in/photostream/

[datadyne007]

I recognize those old bones. Thanks for these.
I love that you can still see the brutalist rhythmic and monolithic structural columns in the new forum that once comprised the old facade. They didn't hide them with any perpendicular drywall.

[Pierce]

ugh..... sorry, but any architect who exports renderings direct from sketchup can't be trusted to be competent

[datadyne007]

Ira Allen/Center for Sciences and Biomedical Engineering
> Taken by BOND Brothers, posted on the Facebook page.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429546_343678002322277_183207238369355_1040590_148 6966002_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/428196_343678058988938_183207238369355_1040591_175 0784496_n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417049_343678112322266_183207238369355_1040592_128 8020987_n.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427708_343678152322262_183207238369355_1040593_425 707451_n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/426101_343678202322257_183207238369355_1040594_519 366180_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/395675_343678225655588_183207238369355_1040595_156 5813654_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/427476_343678275655583_183207238369355_1040596_112 0031046_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421528_343678292322248_183207238369355_1040597_371 641958_n.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/426467_343678325655578_183207238369355_1040598_692 692309_n.jpg

[datadyne007]

More Ira Allen:

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425583_349536981736379_183207238369355_1055145_428 318177_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426460_349537058403038_183207238369355_1055146_583 984080_n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417648_349537135069697_183207238369355_1055147_173 8805954_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/423835_349537248403019_183207238369355_1055149_590 301991_n.jpg

[whighlander]

Ira Allen/Center for Sciences and Biomedical Engineering

> Taken by BOND Brothers, posted on the Facebook page.

Completed pilecaps
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/315050_252208471469231_183207238369355_766120_3654 388_n.jpg

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429546_343678002322277_183207238369355_1040590_148 6966002_n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425583_349536981736379_183207238369355_1055145_428 318177_n.jpg




Data -- I presume that these 3 pix show the same brick wall?

[datadyne007]

Yes, indeed. Great re-use of the old facade. Very much like MCPHS' Matricaria SC.

[datadyne007]

Fitness center:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424367_367295246637866_270506839650041_1148319_964 632191_n.jpg

New commuter lockers:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420013_367295263304531_270506839650041_1148320_439 441820_n.jpg

Oversized seating is rather inappropriate for the space:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425183_367295219971202_270506839650041_1148318_232 440722_n.jpg

Info Hub, WIRE (radio) in the back:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/421073_367295276637863_270506839650041_1148321_158 4107512_n.jpg

Temporary seating for the caf upstairs (Ward St addition) because Spring Break is ending:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/432073_367297009971023_738020777_n.jpg

The ground floor of Beatty will (re)open on Monday! "Building a better tomorrow!"

[datadyne007]

525 Huntington Avenue has been approved by the Board of Trustees. This was designated in the IMP to become a 7-story dorm with 305 beds in apartment style living with single bedrooms. This might be split off into its own thread because of the prominent location.

IMP (http://wit.edu/imp/docs/WIT_IMP_09292010.pdf) Listing:
http://i47.tinypic.com/28l9o5.png

Initial renders from Perkins + Will:
http://i48.tinypic.com/332s1tx.png
http://i46.tinypic.com/190481.png

Letter from Dr. Pantic released this morning:

Dear Wentworth Community,

As we are nearing the completion and opening of The Flanagan Campus Center and The Center for Sciences and Biomedical Engineering for the fall semester, the Institute is looking to the future and planning for other projects that will further benefit the campus community.

I am pleased to inform you that the Board of Trustees has approved the development of a new 305-bed residence hall at 525 Huntington Avenue, the site of the current Wentworth-owned park that occupies the corner of Huntington Avenue and Louis Prang Street across from the fire station on Huntington Avenue. The residence hall was one of the five projects that were proposed as part of Wentworth’s vision articulated in the Institutional Master Plan, a comprehensive development plan that describes long-range planning goals and proposed projects that was filed with the City of Boston.

The new seven-story residence hall is geared toward juniors and seniors, offering apartment-style living with mostly single bedrooms as part of a suite. It will create more appealing housing alternatives for students wishing to live on campus and these units will provide modern amenities to address the current and future needs of students.

Over the summer months, focus groups will be held with students to involve them in the process and garner feedback related to amenities and elements of the design. Operating on an aggressive timeline, the plan is to break ground on this project in February of 2013 and have it opened for the Fall 2014 semester.

Building at this time will enable Wentworth to take advantage of reduced construction costs and more attractive funding options, which for this type of construction project, will result in considerable savings for the Institute.

The other initiative that is underway is related to the potential future private development of Sweeney Field. At this time, the Institute is only seeking zoning approval, a key initial step in the process. The current work taking place on Sweeney Field is unrelated to future development as it is a project to remove and replace the existing turf.

Wentworth is considering the future development of up to 650,000 square feet of facilities on the site to be used for research and development and offices. The development of this land is likely going to take place within the next eight years as communicated in the master plan. The Institute would enter into a long-term ground lease arrangement with an entity seeking to develop this space. The objective is to attract a tenant that will create jobs, co-op placements, internships, and interdisciplinary opportunities for students. In addition, as part of the development, a 70,000 square-foot academic building will be created for Wentworth to house our Center for Innovation in Engineering and Technology. Prior to any development taking place, Sweeney Field would be relocated over the Parker Street lot.

As you can see, it continues to be an exciting time for Wentworth.

Sincerely,
Zorica
Zorica Pantić, Ph.D.
President

[blade_bltz]

Triangle building replacing a park...it's a beautiful thing.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Awesome. I remember buying cigarettes from the old gas station that was there.

[Tombstoner]

unfortunate that frontage on huntington is taken up with just another identikit dorm...

[bbfen]

unfortunate that frontage on huntington is taken up with just another identikit dorm...

??? Is it designed? I thought that was shadow/massing study.

[Tombstoner]

??? Is it designed? I thought that was shadow/massing study.

I think that's a preliminary rendering preceding the shadow/massing study, no?

[datadyne007]

Yes, the rendering is at least 2 years old. It is just the rendering from the IMP (I just screenshotted the PDF). The shadow studies are also from the IMP.

The rendering that the IMP has for Ira Allen doesn't look like what was just built either. The renders for Beatty (unfortunately) never changed.

[bbfen]

Right, I'm not trying to parse words, but the screenshot from the IMP says "initial shadow and massing study are presented below." I'm inclined not to read anything more into it.

[datadyne007]

I quite like the initial massing/facade study. Hopefully they reinforce and build upon the strong points of their initial concept as they go through the DD phase. Of course, it will likely change dramatically.

It's always important to include the initial renders just to see how the project progresses over time. I'll never get to experience the building because I'm graduating in a few months, but I'm excited for this project and will get to watch it go up. I suspect that like Ira Allen and Beatty/Flanagan, student symposiums/think-tanks will be huge design drivers. Wentworth has been polling us for years about why we live off campus and they're finally addressing a key issue in this dorm -- apartment living with SINGLE bedrooms instead of horrible doubles.