Boston College plans new academic building
Boston College is making plans to build a new 160,000 square foot academic building along College Road in Newton as part of its sweeping expansion plans, officials said today.
The building, to be called Stokes Commons, will house the humanities department and about twenty classrooms and offices in the Chestnut Hill area, known as the Middle Campus.
Boston College has met with Newton city officials and neighborhood representatives, said Jack Dunn, Boston College spokesman. The College will present the plans for the building to the City of Newton in early 2010.
Stokes Commons is part of a broader, $1 billion master plan Boston College outlined in 2007. The academic building will be the first construction project, said Dunn.
Boston College's President, Father William P. Leahy S.J., spoke about the expansion during the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce Achievement Breakfast and Awards Ceremony this morning.
“Going forward we have plans to keep strengthening Boston College,” said Fr. Leahy. “One of the great strengths of BC has been a process of assessment and planning that occurs roughly every 10 years. We’re mindful how there can be difficult moments and institutions can grow from it.”
Boston College is planning to increase faculty and staff, meet 100 percent of university housing demands, as well as add four academic buildings, a new student center, a recreation complex, a fine arts district and playing fields over the next 10-15 years, said Dunn.
The Boston Zoning Commission approved a proposal in May for baseball and softball fields and student housing in Brighton, despite resident dissent. The City of Boston has also approve the proposal for the student center, recreation complex, and fine arts district, all of which will be located in Boston sections of campus, said Dunn. But the college also has extensive holdings in Newton, and its new building is close to a residential area of that city.
Jeremy Solomon, director of policy and communications for Newton Mayor David B. Cohen, reacted positively to the news. "We’re eager to review their plans in detail, but we are please such an important part of the community and partner, like Boston College, is in a position to grow and continue to succeed here," Solomon said today.
Daniel Schwartz, 48, who lives on Priscilla Road near the BC campus, said the expansion of Boston College is positive. "It's good because more students will be coming to B.C.," he said.
Earlier this year, the BC said that in addition to its projects within the city of Boston, "the University will eventually construct four academic buildings on its Middle Campus in Chestnut Hill.’’
At Tuesday's breakfast, in a room filled of business men and women, and elected officials, Leahy emphasized the importance of higher education as a resource for local communities. Seven hundred employees are in Newton and 80 are living in Needham, said Leahy. Boston College has plans to expand their campus to accommodate undergraduate housing and add facilities for their undergraduate to utilize, such as new student center and recreational complex, he said.
“What we do in education does so much for the future of the country, we can never over invest in education,” said Leahy.
Also at the breakfast, six individuals and organizations received awards for their contributions to the Chamber of Commerce and the community. The Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Rachel Hillman of Realty Executive for her efforts in the small business community.
Needham Community Council was named the Non-Profit of the Year for the high number of residents they assisted this last year through donated meals and medical services.
Phillip Herr, a member of mayor-elect Setti Warren’s transition team, accepted the Leading Community Award for his work on promoting affordable housing in Newton.
Newton-Wellesley Hospital received the Chairman’s Award for their support of the Chamber of Commerce and the community. The hospital opened the James and Joan Vernon Cancer Center this year, and employs more than 2,500 people.
The Robert L. Tennant Award was given to Judith Haber of Causemedia, inc., for her service and impact in the community over a number of years.
The Needham Bank was given the Leading Business Award. The bank continued to hire employees this year and continued to support for many Needham organizations.
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