Emmanuel College moves ahead with plan to build new dorm, expand research facilities

(David L. Ryan/Globe Staff/2000)

The Emmanuel College campus in the Fenway.

By Johanna Kaiser, Town Correspondent

Emmanuel College is fine-tuning its plans to expand its campus with the proposed construction of a new dormitory, a larger library, and new research facilities run by Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

The Fenway college and the hospital outlined their latest plans during a joint task force meeting Monday where they discussed the school’s institutional master plans for the next 10 years.

“As Emmanuel has grown, it has outstripped its current dining facilities,” said Robert Chandler of the architect firm Goody Clancy, outlining plans to demolish the school’s current dormitory Julie Hall and build a new dorm with apartment and suite style units, along with a new dining hall and other student facilities.

The proposed 275,000-square-foot building would be 75 high along Brookline Avenue and increase to 180 feet farther from the street. The residence hall would add a net of 500 on-campus beds as the school looks to boost enrollment to 2,200 over the next decade while keeping about three-fourths of students on campus.

The school currently enrolls 1,750 students.

Chandler said the school has also outgrown many of its classrooms and facilities and will with plan to expand the library and by allowing the Brigham to demolish the 50,000 square foot Alumnae Hall to build a 360,000-square-foot lab and research facility on Avenue Louis Pasteur.

The hospital currently leases the land from the school, and the two institutions are in talks to establish a long-term lease.

These proposed changes, Chandler said, would not affect traffic flow and would allow for more green space on campus by moving an above-ground parking lot near Alumnae Hall below grade.

“It’s Emmanuel’s last chance to take parking off its campus above ground,” said Chandler, noting the garage would hold 355 spaces, the same amount as the lot.

The reconfigured buildings would also for three distinct quadrangles throughout the campus.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is hosting a public forum for Longwood Medical Area residents and neighbors to discuss concerns and ask questions. That meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 26, in the Ledge Conference Room on the fourth floor of One Brigham circle at 6:30 p.m.
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E-mail: johanna.yourtown@gmail.com