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Russo Hall

ABOUT THE PROJECT

In her inaugural address, President Sian Beilock pledged to add a total of 1,000 new beds for students, faculty, and staff over the next decade. The first project in this vision is underway at 25 West Wheelock St., an approximately one-acre parcel on the north side of the street. Once complete, this five-story structure—to be called Russo Hall—will house apartment-style units for juniors and seniors on the West End of campus. The units will add 285 beds and include a mix of two-, three-, and four-bed apartments, each with a full kitchen, living room, and storage space. 

PROJECT GOALS

  • Substantially increase undergraduate housing on the West End of campus.  

  • Meet the institutional health, wellness, and sustainability objectives by targeting LEED Gold certification and incorporating high-performance building materials.  

  • Create 285 new beds for juniors and seniors. 

PROJECT TIMING

  • Site work has commenced on Russo Hall with construction set to begin in October 2024. 

  • Anticipated completion date is summer 2026. 

WHAT'S CURRENTLY HAPPENING

  •  Installation of the necessary support systems for safely excavating the building foundations, which includes the following:
    • Supportive excavation systems that include driven sheet piles and soldier pile and lagging around the perimeter of the property.
    • The installation of these systems use large machinery and will generate noise and vibrations in the areas around the construction site.
    • These systems are necessary to ensure excavation does not impact the surrounding properties and the area remains stable for workers.
    • Normal working hours will be between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday- Friday. There is potential for work on select Saturdays.
    • The construction team is actively monitoring the levels of vibration to ensure they remain within safe levels for surrounding properties.  
  • The sidewalk in front of the construction site will be closed for the duration of the project. Pedestrian detours and signage will be put in place to promote safe routes across the street.
  • The ECSC "Thinking Path" will be closed until late spring of 2025 and signage for alternate routes will be put in place."

 

What to expect in the coming weeks:

  • Start of concrete forming and concrete slab placement for site foundations.

Project Team