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Major Summer Renovations Enhance Campus
The most significant renovations were made in Kennedy Memorial Hall where two auditoriums were completely remodeled and a suite for the newly restructured Honors Program was added. Kennedy 112, which will be known as the George I. Alden Trust Auditorium, was outfitted with a new ceiling, lighting, state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, and full handicap accessibility. The space is ideal for small theatrical and musical performances, as well as lectures and film screenings. Offering a seating capacity of more than 100, Alden Auditorium is now the largest tiered seating venue on campus. The original seating from 1956 was replaced with modern, movie theater style, cushioned seating. This renovation project was made possible through a $400,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust. Kennedy 119, which will be known as the Assumption Prep Auditorium, is a smaller, tiered room with fixed tables and movable, rolling seating (pictured above). The auditorium is well equipped for regular classroom instruction and can be utilized for conferences and meetings. Through the use of high-tech audio/visual equipment, the venue can receive a signal from a remote seminar or meeting. Funding for the renovation of the Prep Auditorium was provided by the Assumption Prep Campaign, headed by Assumption Prep alumni Charlie Bibaud AP ’51 and Dr. Peter Deckers, AP ’58, executive vice president for Health Affairs and dean of UConn Medical School. To date, 350 Assumption Prep alumni have supported the project resulting in gifts and pledges of $425,000. In recognition of the Assumption Prep faculty, staff, and alumni, the auditorium will display memorabilia from the Prep School, which operated from 1904-1970. The third aspect of the Kennedy Hall renovations was the creation of an Honors Suite, which provides students enrolled in the revamped Honors Program a place to study, relax, and interact with each other and faculty advisors. The suite includes a lounge, seminar room, computer workstation area, and a director’s office. Two classrooms in Kennedy were also combined into one large room, which supports regular instruction and provides rehearsal space for Assumption’s Chorale and Band. Taylor Dining Hall also underwent major renovations during the summer. All of the furniture was replaced, new flooring was added, and the walls were painted. The new seating arrangement is made up of banquettes (long upholstered benches), booths, round tables, and chairs. The redesign has already prompted a positive reaction from students. Twenty-four apartments in the Authier and Dufault (“Six Men”) residence halls had a total overhaul of their interiors completed. Kitchens and bathrooms were redone, new carpeting was installed, furniture was replaced and the entire interiors of both halls were painted. In addition to Authier and Dufault, Hanrahan Hall (“B Dorm”) also received improvements. New carpets were installed, the interior was painted, and lounges were added. Updates were made to the ceilings, lighting, and bathrooms. Students in the Honors Program can now opt to live together in Hanrahan Hall. “We were looking for a dramatic improvement in all areas and I think we more than accomplished our goal,” said Jerry Barilla, director of Business Services.
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Worcester, MA (September 21, 2006) - Assumption College recently completed a $3.4 million summer renovation project, which included major improvements to five buildings on campus—Lieutenant Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Memorial Hall, Taylor Dining Hall, and Authier, Dufault, and Hanrahan residence halls.