Loker Construction Forces Unplanned Annenberg Closure

Annenberg Hall—the only dining hall open on campus to serve hundreds of summer school students and proctors—was closed this evening because dust generated by the construction in Loker Commons leaked into the food preparation area.

Most of Annenberg’s kitchen is located in the basement of Memorial Hall. Loker Commons, where the Queen’s Head Pub is scheduled to open this winter, shares the basement.

Summer School Dean of Students Christopher S. Queen sent an e-mail to proctors at 4:40 p.m. alerting them to the situation and saying that “the dust must be tested as a precaution to rule out any hazardous substances.” He also asked proctors to go to Annenberg at 5 p.m. to explain the situation to students.

At 5 p.m., students began arriving at Annenberg, some of whom had already received e-mails from their proctors about the closure. Most were told to return for a barbecue on Annenberg’s front lawn at 6:15 p.m.

The Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) staff also bought fruit for the students from the HUDS-organized farmer’s market in front of the Science Center.

Those students who had final exams, classes, or review sessions at 6 p.m. were given $7.50 vouchers that they could use to purchase food at the Greenhouse Café in the Science Center.

It was not known if Annenberg would be open for breakfast tomorrow morning, HUDS Human Resources Manager Susan G. Simon said, although other HUDS staff said that they were optimistic that it would reopen.

—Staff writer Paras D. Bhayani can be reached at pbhayani@fas.harvard.edu.