Each morning, I wake up to the energetic sounds of drilling and hammering, a reminder of the exciting renovations happening in Tower. As a current resident of Tower, I’ve come to anticipate the updates that promise to enhance our living community. My inbox greets me with the latest renovation updates, and on my way to class, I exchange nods and friendly hellos with the workers transforming the space around me.
During the summer of 2023, the Residence Hall Renovation Project made significant strides in remodeling Severance and Tower Court. This past summer, Severance completed its transformation, featuring upgrades like a new and improved entryway and increased ADA accessibility. Meanwhile, Tower entered Phase 2 of its renovation, which involved the installation of new plumbing lines and updates to bathrooms and kitchenettes. Construction also kicked off at Claflin, with work projected to continue through 2025. These ongoing dorm renovations are set to expand across all residence halls over the next eight years, reflecting a long-term commitment to enhancing student living spaces. Despite the short-term inconveniences from construction, I’m in favor of the dorm renovations, as they will modernize and improve the function of the Wellesley community.
Although much of Tower’s renovation is complete, a few final touches are still on the way. In the coming weeks, the showerheads in the bathrooms will be raised by eight inches, hooks will be installed, and new, longer shower curtains will block most water leakage. I’m looking forward to the new furniture coming to the kitchenettes and hallway nooks, which I think will make the space more inviting and functional. The addition of an accessible entrance with a ramp into the dining hall and an elevator into the Great Hall is a long-awaited improvement of mine, as it will make going down from the upper floors to attend house meetings much more convenient. Most importantly, the full renovation of the dining hall, expected to be completed by Oct. 1, is something I’m especially excited for because it will give the space a fresh, modern feel.
However, talking with my friends in Tower about construction led us to realize that relaxing calls with family back home is not a thing, especially not in the common room. While the noise and occasional inconvenience of ongoing construction can be rowdy — especially when trying to study in the Great Hall or hallway nooks — it has pushed me to explore other great study spots on campus, giving me a chance to discover new corners of campus I hadn’t noticed before, such as the mini cubicles on the top floor of Science Center or the green area in front of the lake. Plus, with all the walking to avoid the noise, I’ve managed to get in extra steps each day.
As a first-year student, I’m excited to see how the dorms evolve and transform in the next upcoming months. I know these upgrades, from modern amenities to better accessibility, will undoubtedly enhance daily life for present and future students. Although I don’t enjoy the loud clashing at 8 am disturbing my sleep-in days — the days I don’t have morning classes — I believe that the renovation will bring long-term benefits: comfortable and inclusive living spaces for years to come.
Contact the editor(s) responsible for this story: Teesta Kasargod
