Located on the central green space of the college’s 450-acre campus, The Paresky Center replaces an outmoded dining and administration building.
With the intention of creating a dynamic and vital crossroads of student life, the design responds to existing campus circulation patterns, reinforcing principal east-west and north-south student pedestrian traffic.
An extensive programming process with students, faculty, and administration revealed the need not only for expected student amenities, such as dining facilities, meeting and office spaces for student organizations, auditorium, large and small lounges and social spaces, but also for a single major public space to function as a forum or focal point for the social life of the entire campus. Named the Baxter Great Hall, this central space is inspired by the lobbies and lounges of the great national parks and resort lodges of the 19th-century with their rustic construction, comfortable furnishing, generous proportions, and open fireplaces.
| Architect | Polshek Partnership Architects, LLP Richard M. Olcott FAIA – Design Partner Duncan R. Hazard AIA – Management Partner M. Gregory Clawson AIA – Project Manager and Project Architect Stephen Chu AIA – Project Designer Charmian C. Place – Interiors |
| Sub-consultants | Robert Silman Associates, P.C. – Structural Engineering Ambrosino DePinto & Schmieder Engineers – MEP Engineering Guntlow & Associates – Civil Engineering Robert Schwartz & Associates – Specifications R.A. Heintges & Associates – Curtainwall James R. Gainfort Associates – Exterior Envelope Halvorson Design – Landscape Architecture Ricca Newmark Design – Food Service Shen, Milsom & Wilke, Inc. – Acoustical, Audio-Visual and Telecommunications Ducibella, Venter & Santore Associates – Security Brandston Partnership, Inc. – Lighting Design Iros Elevator Services, LLC – Elevator Poulin & Morris – Graphic Design Steven Winter Associates – Sustainable Design |
| Building | The building total square footage is approximately 72,000 gsf. |
| Principal Materials | Steel frame and timber frame structure with brick, wood and cast stone exterior materials. Featured interior materials include wood (douglas fir, beech, and cherry) and Vermont slate. |
| Location | 39 Chapin Hall Drive |
| Groundbreaking | November of 2004. First steel was set in June of 2005. |
| Building Committee | Irene Addison, Associate Vice President for Facilities and Auxiliary Services Michael Briggs, Senior Project Manager, Facilities Marissa Doran '05 Adam Grogg '04 Michael Henry '04 Eugene J. Johnson, Class of 1955 Memorial Professor of Art Catherine Mercado '06 Beatrice Miles, Director of Facilities Services Megan Morey, Director of Leadership Giving, Development Nancy Roseman, Dean of the College, Professor of Biology Douglas Schiazza, Director of Campus Life Richard Spalding, Chaplain to the College and Coordinator of Community Service Robert Volpi, Director of Dining Services Christopher Williams, Assistant Director for Architectural Services |
| For more information | Williams College Office of Public Affairs (413) 597-4277 |
| Polshek Partnership Architects Press Contacts: | |
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Lisetta Koe, Think Tank New York Lisetta@thinktanknewyork.com (212) 491-1488 | |
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Sara Wolf, Polshek Partnership swolf@polshek.com (212) 807-7171 |