Renovation and Expansion of Hart Center to Begin



The College of the Holy Cross announced today that it has raised the required two-thirds of the estimated construction costs for the renovation and expansion of the Hart Center on campus, and has signed a contract with Bond Brothers, a construction management firm to begin work on the project.

The overall project, which includes both the renovation and expansion of the Hart Center and the subsequent renovation of the Field House, is one of six priority initiatives that make up the College’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, titled "Become More: Campaign for the Future of Holy Cross." This initiative is focused on improving the College’s athletics, health, and wellness facilities to benefit the entire student body.

Work may begin as early as December as construction crews prepare the site adjacent to the Hart Center. That location is slated for the ultimate building expansion and construction of a new field house. Initial work will include installation of construction safety fencing, some blasting and drilling, as well as making egress possible for the delivery of steel and other building materials.

Interior work in the Hart gym will begin after the basketball season ends in March 2016, and will continue through September, with other phased-in work occurring in different parts of the building over the course of the year. Hart construction will likely be completed in the summer of 2018.

Renovation of the Field House will begin following completion of the Hart work.

In an email to the campus community, Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College, wrote: "As you can imagine, the Hart renovation and construction will be a complex project over a period of approximately two years on the hilltop of our campus. Construction of this magnitude is never a neat, orderly or easy process, and one thing we know for sure is that there will be some disruption and inconvenience on campus in the months ahead."

He added: "I am committed to working with students, faculty, and staff to ensure that information is clearly communicated about changes in parking, access to the buildings, changes to schedules, and all other matters related to the project. The construction will impact all of us, and I thank you in advance for your patience as we work to write the next chapter of Holy Cross history — and create facilities that will benefit all Holy Cross students."

Fr. Boroughs also announced the appointment of Jamie Hoag, the College’s director of government and community relations, as the project liaison to groups and individuals (both on and off campus) who utilize the Hart Center. Hoag will be working closely with staff in Athletics to notify groups that may be displaced during construction, and assisting them find other venues.

Holy Cross will continue to raise money for this project throughout the remaining years of the "Become More" campaign, but these early and generous gifts have allowed the College to take advantage of the momentum and currently begin the Hart Center renovation and construction.