Construction Galore: How PC is Slowly but Surely Improving Campus for All

by Emma Strempfer '24 on September 9, 2022
Editor-in-Chief


Campus


Returning Providence College students have noticed changes to campus infrastructure. PC administration is working to improve the appearance and functionality of the College on all fronts. A growing student body and a commitment to an expansion in green space are driving the changes, both big and small. 

PC’s newest residence building, Shanley Hall, is undoubtedly the project that is on the minds of most PC students because of its auditory presence, particularly on lower campus.  The 120,000 square foot residence hall will stand six stories high and will house close to 360 students.

Jill Parrett, PC’s Director of Health and Safety, returned from a concrete pour on the north wall of the building to speak with The Cowl last Friday. “Shanley Hall is being built from scratch, and those involved with the project are taking care to be as sustainable as possible.” Members of PC administration involved in the construction of Shanley Hall have been working closely with Rhode Island Energy and taking advice on how to create the most sustainably focused approach to heating, cooling, and building products and procedures. The work is being done by Dimeo Construction, a Providence-based company that is simultaneously working on an Amazon warehouse in Johnston and a building for Brown University. 

Shanley Hall is on track to be completed in August of 2023, just 18 months after it broke ground. 

Towards the center of campus, Raymond Dining Hall underwent some minor structural and cosmetic changes. Along with expanded seating indoors, PC has upgraded the outdoor space, making it more student-friendly. Ray is the main dining hall on campus and really the only cafeteria-style place to eat, so expanding seating there was a must, given the growing student numbers.

“Opening the college back up during the pandemic emphasized to the administration how essential green space is and what was revealed was a lack of green space in the center of campus,” Ms. Parrett says. The administration hopes that students will congregate and enjoy the beautiful landscaping done outside of Ray. 

Steps away from Ray, Feinstein continues to undergo minor changes. Towards the end of the 2022 spring semester, some necessary maintenance work was done on the west entrance of the building. This year, however, the changes are meant to have a direct impact on students. The administration noticed that the fourth floor of the building was being underutilized by students and there was little to no classroom space. As the college grows, making buildings more student-friendly and taking advantage of already established square footage is essential. So, there will be interior restructuring that will create more classroom space. 

Towards the very edge of campus, Albertus Magnus Hall is also getting its fair share of construction work. Students agree that the Science Complex is undergoing constant renovation, and they would be right. “It is a five-phase project, and we have just completed stage four,” Ms. Parrett says. Structural changes, like​​ the replacement of the brick parapets, window lintels, roof and windows, and exterior masonry work, are coupled with work on the inside to bring Albertus Magnus’s capabilities to a new level via state-of-the-art research labs and facilities. 

“Over the past few years, there has been a tremendous amount of shuffling people around,” Ms. Parrett says. “Both students and faculty, even summer researchers have all been affected by this. 

The changes will hopefully allow the building to meet the needs of the new nursing students.”

Other, smaller projects include changes to the Library’s Student Success Center and masonry work in front of the cemetery.