The College is in the final stages of planning a multimillion dollar project to extensively renovate Robinson Hall, which is home to a number of student organizations.
"If things go well, renovations start this summer and will take a year," said Jack Wilson, assistant director of facilities planning and architectural services.
Wilson and George Hawthorne are the two College architects in charge of redesigning Robinson Hall.
"The project looks likely, but there are still some funding issues that have to be resolved. It hasn't gotten final approval from all parties concerned," said Edwin Johnson, director of financial services and associate treasurer of the College.
Johnson said the project still requires the approval of the vice president and provost. He said the College is currently looking into sources of funding for the project.
The College has not set an exact date of when renovations will begin because a final cost estimate has not been made, Wilson said.
"I've heard numbers in excess of $2 million," said Johnson.
The renovations will include a new staircase and an elevator to the west side of Robinson Hall, Wilson said.
The west side of Robinson Hall faces the entrance to Thayer Dining Hall.
The College will develop the third floor and make it usable space, Wilson said. The third floor of Robinson Hall is currently unused, Wilson said.
The renovation will be in two phases, Wilson said. The first phase will concentrate on alterations to the west side and basement, Wilson said. The front of Robinson Hall will be renovated in the second phase.
The changes in Robinson Hall will serve three goals, Wilson said.
The renovations will make Robinson fully accessible and bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, he said.
The College also felt Robinson Hall needs a second means of exit from each floor and other fire precautionary measures, Wilson said.
The College plans to update the building's electrical systems, telephones, heating, plumbing and computer networking systems, Wilson said. New bathrooms will be added, he said.
While the renovations are occurring, some of the student organizations occupying Robinson Hall will be forced to relocate, although the College hopes to use part of the building while the renovations are occurring, Wilson said.
WDCR/WFRD, the College's radio station, will remain in the building throughout the renovations and will eventually relocate to the third floor.
Wilson said during the first phase the radio station will remain operating from its current office.
"Once the first phase is complete, the radio station will move into the new space built on the third floor," he said.
Wilson said he was unsure which other organizations will stay in Robinson Hall and which organizations would leave the building during the renovations.
Last spring, the Office of Facilities Planning discussed the renovation plans with several of the organizations that utilize Robinson Hall, including the Dartmouth Outing Club, the Aegis, the Forensic Union and The Dartmouth, Wilson said.
"The renovations will be inconvenient for the organizations," Wilson said. He said most of the groups will probably have to move to less centrally-located sites.
When the renovations are completed, there will be a mass reshuffling of student organizations in the building, Wilson said.
Wilson is currently meeting with representatives of the different organizations in Robinson Hall to discuss plans for the new building.
"Currently, all groups have adequate square footage," Wilson said. After the renovations are completed, each organization would maintain or possibly increase their amount of floor space, he said.
Wilson said the west side of Robinson is the only part of Robinson which will exhibit external changes.
The College will remove the small fire escape protruding from the brick wall. An entire new section containing another staircase and an elevator will connect to the west side, Wilson said.
The Office of Facilities Planning intends to construct a walkway and more floor space to connect the existing third floor area with the new west stairs and elevator, Wilson said.
"We started planning a little less than a year ago," Wilson said. He said definite plans started crystallizing last fall. According to Johnson, Wilson had a direct hand in designing the new Robinson Hall.
"We're still working on details. We have to work in the bathrooms just right," Wilson said.
The College has had the project in mind for several years, he said.
