Work Plans Underway on Dana and Gilman Halls

The north end of campus is slated to get a new look—and much-needed faculty office space—from work that will begin late this fall on two vacant buildings. One is scheduled to be demolished and the other will be renovated.

Gilman Hall, the former biological sciences building, has been vacant since 2010; it is in poor condition and will be razed. Dana Hall, which had been home to the biomedical library, will be renovated, making space for faculty offices. Dana has been vacant since 2012, when the library moved to 37 Dewey Field Road.

“We’re glad to be moving forward with this project and will be very pleased to provide space to support the work of Dartmouth’s faculty,” says Provost Carolyn Dever.

The project is expected to take two years, with the opening of Dana set tentatively for the fall of 2019. Gilman is slated to be taken down between late November and late December of this year. Plans call for the land around the Gilman and Dana sites to be landscaped with pedestrian walkways, green space, and parking.

“The two projects are an exciting opportunity to improve this part of campus and to reinforce the visual and physical connection between the north end and the main part of the campus,” says John Scherding, Dartmouth’s associate vice president for planning, design, and construction.

College trustees will hear updates on the plans at their next meeting, in September. Before work can begin on Dana, Dartmouth will need site-plan approval from the town of Hanover’s planning board. Scherding says the College is working on design plans and hopes to apply for site-plan review this winter. Dartmouth has town permits in hand for the demolition work.

The plans call for Dana, which, along with Gilman, was built in 1963, to be completely gutted. Renovated space will include faculty offices, reading and study areas, and a graduate student lounge. Design work on the project is in the beginning stages. The renovation is scheduled to take about a year.

The College is working with Leers Weinzapfel Architects of Boston on the project. A steering committee will refine the building’s design, making recommendations to Dever and Executive Vice President Rick Mills. Committee members are Associate Provost Martha Austin; Professor Lisa Baldez; Director of Engineering and Utilities Abbe Bjorklund; Senior Project Manager Joe Broemel; School of Graduate and Advanced Studies Dean F. Jon Kull; Associate Dean Dan Rockmore, and Scherding.