BC envisions a reshaping of its campus

Boston College is planning a sweeping overhaul of its campus that would add at least four new buildings, relocate an MBTA station, and bring student facilities closer to the school's neighbors in Newton and Brighton.

In addition, the school is eyeing construction of a dramatic walkway over Commonwealth Avenue near Lake Street that officials hope would knit together the Chestnut Hill campus with the 44-acre property in Brighton that the college acquired two years ago from the Catholic Archdiocese of Boston.

``Boston College has ambitions," said Jack Dunn, the school spokesman. ``We finally have the living space to do what we have always wanted to do, and that's grow for the future."

Dunn stressed that the new construction is not designed to accommodate more students. The student body population has been capped at 9,000 for the past 20 years, and there are no plans to change that, Dunn said.

He said the plans, which were unveiled to faculty Wednesday and will be voted on by the board of trustees this month, are still being finalized.

But the blueprint indicates BC is readying a comprehensive reshaping of the school's 200-acre landscape, and it will demand a massive fund-raising effort. Among other things, it calls for:

Constructing residence halls for at least 400 students on the current site of Shea Field, where the baseball and softball teams play, opposite the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.

Building an expanded student center near Alumni Stadium that would house a dining hall, a theater, and space for student organizations.

Building a state-of-the-art recreation and sports center that will include basketball and tennis courts and workout facilities on St. Thomas More Road on the eastern edge of campus. To make way for the center, BC would raze 30-year-old Edmonds Hall, which currently houses 800 students.

Constructing a humanities academic building, on the current site of McElroy Commons, the student center on Beacon Street and College Road.

Establishing its baseball complex, where its Division I team would play, at the corner of the former archdiocesan property, which abuts homes on Lake Street and roads in Brighton. The property is currently used for more casual recreation, including intramurals.

Relocating the T's Green Line stop at Boston College to a spot about 100 yards closer to Boston, opposite the entrance to the former archdiocesan land. BC, in cooperation with the MBTA, is eyeing a plan to build a passageway over Commonwealth Avenue to reach the train platform. Dunn said the walkway could also be built underground.

Building a structure on the former archdiocesan property for use as an art museum and performance space. The current McMullen Museum would probably be converted to academic space or an admissions office.

Among other changes to the look of the campus, BC would raze the last of the so-called Mods, the apartment-style complexes constructed in the 1970's that now house 500 upperclassmen.

It's not clear how all the student housing that would be demolished would be replaced. Right now, the plan calls for adding 900 rooms and eliminating 1,300. Residential halls are especially sensitive proposals for abutting neighbors.

Dunn said all the rooms that are being razed will eventually be replaced, and approximately 500 will be built in the area where the Mods are now. He acknowledged the school has not developed plans for the remaining 400 rooms.

Dunn also declined to say how much money the construction would cost. The school has an endowment of $1.4 billion and spent nearly $100 million acquiring the former archdiocesan property.

The school says the expansion will enhance its stature as it nears its 150th anniversary in 2013. BC, once regarded as a regional Catholic college, has joined the ranks of the nation's most competitive schools, viewed on the same tier with such schools as New York University, Tufts, and Brandeis. In the US News & World Report college rankings, BC was 34th, up from 40th last year. But some of the features students care about most -- athletic facilities, student centers, and residential halls -- are outdated, unattractive, and in some cases too small.

News of the master plan for the campus was first reported in The Heights, a student newspaper.

Dunn said the college will seek approval from its board of trustees at its meeting on Sept. 29. It will then submit the proposal to the Boston Redevelopment Authority between October and January.

City officials confirmed that BC representatives had met with the BRA and briefed Mayor Thomas M. Menino. A spokeswoman for the BRA said the agency had no comment until BC submits its proposal.

In Brighton and Newton, officials said they were taken aback when told of the plans yesterday.

``It just seems that BC is going about things in the wrong manner," said Boston City Councilor Jerry McDermott, who represents Brighton. ``It would certainly behoove BC to come forward quickly to the civic associations, put everything out on the table. By putting things out in drips and drabs doesn't make for good community relations."

Dunn said BC is planning to meet with the Allston/Brighton Task Force on Sept. 25.

BC officials have not yet met with Newton's mayor, David B. Cohen, to discuss the plans. The school met with other Newton officials months ago, but at that point was eyeing a different approach.

``This is a change in direction," said R. Lisle Baker, president of the Newton Board of Aldermen, who said the only communication he's received from BC in recent months is a football schedule in the mail. ``I'm a bit puzzled."

Newton, which has tangled with BC in the past over development plans, would be most affected by the planned dormitory construction at Shea Field, which is across from homes on Beacon Street. However, that property is located in Boston, and Newton would be unlikely to have any say in what happens there.

Newton and Brighton residents have clashed with BC over parking for football games, nighttime lights at ballfields and running tracks, and rowdy tailgaters.

Ruthanne Fuller, president of the Chestnut Hill Association, said residence halls on Shea Field would be acceptable only if their entrances faced the college, away from the homes across the street.

Joe Pesaturo, a spokesman for the MBTA, confirmed that BC had consulted with the agency. Pesaturo said the proposal is under discussion and a redesign is underway.

The college, he said, has offered to pay for any additional costs for changes it is seeking.

Sarah Schweitzer can be reached at schweitzer@globe.com. Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com