HSSC Construction Begins!

We have broken ground to start construction of the Humanities and Social Studies Complex (HSSC). This marks the start of some exciting campus improvements, but it also introduces some disruptive activity over the next few years.

A construction fence is already in place around the perimeter of the work area, inside of which McGough Construction and a few major subcontractors will have trailers on site. Demolition is set to begin Jan.13, starting with the former Bookstore and the stacks on the east side of Carnegie, and is scheduled to be completed by Jan. 20. The east-facing windows of ARH and Carnegie have been covered in plywood to protect against risks of loose or flying debris during demolition and construction.

Much of ARH and Carnegie will remain occupied and in use while we construct the new parts of the HSSC, which include the north pavilion, south pavilion, and atrium. Departments directly affected by the current construction have been relocated. Part of the Economics Department has moved to Harry Hopkins House and the Chinese and Japanese Department has moved to Faculty House. Several SFS and emeriti faculty have moved their offices to 821 5th Ave.

Clearing the construction area necessitated the removal or relocation of several trees. Memorial trees and markers within the construction zone were relocated earlier this year to safe sites elsewhere on campus. We carefully planned removal of other trees in the construction zone, taking great care to preserve as many as possible. It's important to note that two large trees adjacent to the building site were removed for safety and health reasons unrelated to the HSSC construction. One was a large sycamore that had a hollow section about two-thirds of the way up the trunk with significant mass above the weak point, creating a safety risk. The other was a large conifer alongside the sycamore, removed because it was compromised and had foliage on only one side due to its proximity to the sycamore. Removal of these two trees was planned independently of the HSSC project, but since we had tree care professionals on site, we bundled removal of those trees along with the others within the construction zone.

On the plus side, the removed trees will live on in new ways. We salvaged much of the wood from the removed trees. It will be milled off-site and then air-dried at Facilities Management for various future uses, including carving workshops, and custom benches professionally designed and built by alumni for the HSSC.
 
Safety First! As always, the safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our highest priority. With work on the HSSC now proceeding in earnest, the areas outside the perimeter of the construction fences require special vigilance. Please be aware of gates allowing traffic in and out of temporary roadways inside the construction area. Two gates are located on the 8th Avenue side of the construction fence, between which the sidewalk is closed. Expect most traffic to enter the western-most gate and exit to the east on 8th Avenue. It is reasonable to expect occasional traffic disruptions at the intersection of Park Street and 8th Avenue. A third gate is between Carnegie Hall and Herrick Chapel, which has also caused a portion of the sidewalk just east of the former Bookstore to be closed.
 
Please be aware of any activity that may affect the streets, sidewalks, lawn areas, and parking lots near the intersection of 8th Avenue and Park Streets, and the streets approaching the area.

Weather and other factors permitting, work is anticipated to proceed on a 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-through-Friday schedule throughout the spring semester. There will also be occasional weekend and evening construction work to minimize disruptions to campus.

Again, we apologize for any inconvenience, encourage caution around the construction zone, and thank you for your patience as we take major steps to improve the Grinnell campus community. Please heed the instructions of signage in the area as activity changes or increases, particularly for pedestrian traffic in this vicinity.

Both Grinnell College and construction professionals from McGough and their subcontractors are concerned with the safety of campus and community residents, and the safety of their workers, as HSSC construction progresses.

 We will continue to keep you updated through Campus Memo and at Campus Construction as construction moves forward. Thank you.

Kate Walker
Chair of the Building Projects Committee