By Hope Benjamin
Elm Staff Writer
Over the summer and the beginning of the academic year, the Office of Buildings and Grounds managed renovations in Norman James Theater in William Smith Hall and Litrenta Lecture Hall in John S. Toll Science Center. An email from Buildings and Grounds announced the construction on May 17.
“Three projects that will have traffic impact will be the Norman James Theater Renovation, the Smith Elevator refurbishment, and the replacement of an aged steam line from the bottom of the Library Terrace across the upper Green to an existing manhole in from of Middle Hall,” the email said.
According to Assistant Vice President of Facilities Stan Yeakel, the Office of Buildings and Grounds used the east coast general contractor Gbuild Construction Managers for the projects. They bundled a few renovation tasks at once to lower the cost of the refurbishments for Washington College.
Yeakel said the two lecture hall projects were not part of WC’s master plan, which is a widespread invitiative to remodel specific parts of campus and its surrounding areas.
“We applied for these [projects] 2.5 years ago, well before [the plan] started,” Yeakel said.
One large improvement the general contractor made to both spaces was more awareness of accessibility for students with ADA concerns. In the back of Litrenta, the area closest to the doors is intended specifically for individuals with those worries.
“Litrenta had no plans to change the ramp as it complies with ADA; however, both here and at [Norman James], we added more left-handed seats, wider seats, and ADA areas where seats were left out to accommodate wheelchairs,” Yeakel said.
Gbuild also updated the Smith elevator, replacing the piston that pushes the car, most of the car itself, and various internal parts.
While many students are pleased with the new renovations, ADA concerns persist for some spaces on campus. Sophomore Olivia Calvert feels that work relating to accessibility still needs to continue.
“I am glad they renovated the elevator. It was much overdue,” Calvert said. “However, I’m upset to find out that there is not much being done to improve accessibility in the theater. For example, the slope is way too steep, wheelchairs still must sit behind the other chairs, and there is still no way for disabled individuals to access the stage [and] balcony.”
Calvert says that the updated chairs should have replicated the new design used in Litrenta, where seats have been taken out in the back for a companion chair.
“It excludes companionship for wheelchair users,” Calvert said.
In terms of the stage area, she believes that WC should have purchased a portable ramp that is compliant with the stairs’ measurements.
“They could just install a permanent ramp, that way there would always be accessibility for everyone,” Calvert said.
The Student Government Association’s Secretary of Student Life sophomore Kaialana Follett, who oversees the curently vacant ADA chair position, believes that these much-needed renovations on campus can aid in making WC more accessible and updated for future generations of students.
“I am happy that they are making [Smith Hall] more accessible and allowing for necessary updates on our campus,” Follett said.
The Litrenta Lecture Hall project is finished with construction and fully operational. According to Yeakel, the contractors will complete Norman James Theater in the coming weeks.
Photo by Ella Humphreys.
Photo Caption: Norman James Theater, located in William Smith Hall, received a makeover recently.