With McKinlock Renewal On Track, Faust Says River Houses Remain the Priority

As the newly released plans for the Dunster House renewal take shape and construction on Leverett’s McKinlock Hall continues to progress, University President Drew G. Faust said on Tuesday that Harvard’s focus for House Renewal, at least for the time being, remains on the river.

“We want to get these [River] Houses done first because they are older and more in need of attention [ than the Quad],” Faust said in an interview with The Crimson.

Renovation on Leverett’s McKinlock Hall remains on track to be completed by August, according to Assistant Dean of FAS Physical Resources Merle Bicknell. After a recent visit to the construction site, Bicknell detailed many of the improvements to McKinlock in an email to The Crimson, including the replacement of the older storm windows with new insulated glass windows that conserve energy while blocking out street commotion and maximizing the natural lighting of the rooms.

She wrote that one of the most exciting facets of the renewal involves the transformation of the noisy, outdoor alleyway into a “light court” and overflow dining area enclosed in glass. The upgraded building will also feature additional performance spaces, music practice rooms, student lounges, and a technological update and modernization of the Old Library Theatre.

Bicknell added that the renewal plans have evolved with student input, incorporating feedback on suite and bathroom mock-ups.

According to both Faust and Bicknell, construction on McKinlock has provided the University with a “test project” for future renovations, much like the remodeling of Quincy’s Stone Hall last year. Bicknell said that Quincy offered a test of residential renewal, while McKinlock serves the different function of housing “program spaces,” like a dining hall, common room, and theater, and the renovation of both types of spaces has informed plans for the Dunster House renewal, which will begin in June.

“So the notion is really to go through this process learning as we go, starting with a fairly small endeavor—about 180 students I believe—in Stone Hall and then moving to a full house,” Faust said.

Bicknell said that McKinlock is home to a historic interior that demands particular attention. The renovation of McKinlock and other upcoming River House projects focus on maintaining a balance between improving the space for current students and remaining faithful to the historical identities of the Houses. According to Bicknell, preserving and restoring the unique character of the rooms, such as McKinlock’s old library, is one of the dominant goals of House Renewal.

“But things have certainly changed since these Houses were built in the 1930s,” she wrote. “We want to support today’s students.”

According to Leverett House Master Howard Georgi, construction has been disruptive to student life in Leverett House.

“The renovation team has tried hard to minimize the problems, but it is very difficult,” he wrote in an email to The Crimson.

He stated that two of the most significant challenges have been the amount of students residing in swing housing, making it difficult to connect with sophomores new to the House, and the loss of large common spaces, which has resulted in the postponement of many House functions.

Georgi added that Leverett staff has tried to work around the roadblocks caused by construction, citing the giant “Tour de Lev” study break, which spanned Leverett buildings and swing spaces, as an example of how the House has tried to keep students connected to the Leverett community.

Georgi wrote that he is looking forward to more accessible common space in the newly renovated McKinlock, and that Leverett will soon have to determine how to best utilize the updated common space and create new House traditions.

—Staff writers Matthew Q. Clarida and Amna H. Hashmi contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer Nikki D. Erlick can be reached at nikki.erlick@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @nikkierlick.

—Staff writer Brianna D. MacGregor can be reached at brianna.macgregor@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @bdmacgregor.