Dear Bates Community,

I write to describe two upcoming capital projects and to provide context and comments about Bates’ campus planning.

Now underway, the first project will turn 96 Campus Avenue into a residence hall by this fall. Acquired from St. Mary’s Health System in 2021 and most recently the temporary home of Student Affairs staff while Chase Hall was under renovation, 96 Campus Avenue will create accessible living options for students, support the fluctuations we regularly experience in class size, and allow us to take existing residences out of service for needed repairs in future years.

The second project will pair college investment with fundraising support to convert Russell Street Field from grass to turf, a decision made after extensive discussions with staff and students involved in athletics and recreation. This will improve the Bates student experience in myriad ways, including increased usage of Russell Field; better durability, playability, and consistency for varsity soccer practice and game play; and more opportunities for other varsity programs, club, and intramural teams. Subject to reaching our fundraising targets, we expect the project will be completed by August.

Along with the recent years’ capital investments, these two projects are guided by the Campus Facilities Master Plan, which has supported strategic planning decisions and helped to steer transformational improvements to our campus since its approval in 2003. At that time, Pettengill Hall had just opened, successfully bringing together faculty who had been working around the periphery of campus, including ground-floor offices in Libbey Forum. Dining was still in Chase Hall, Alumni Walk was Andrews Road, Hedge and Roger Williams afforded basic accommodations as residence halls, and other residences were just plain overcrowded.

Indeed, the 2003 plan, which was updated in 2010, envisioned many of the key dynamics of the campus we enjoy today — creating, reimagining, and improving a number of Bates facilities to serve the needs of the campus community while strengthening bonds with our shared past through historic preservation. We see around us new (Bonney), updated (Dana), and converted academic buildings (Hedge and Roger Williams); new and improved residence halls (Chu, Gillespie, Kalperis); a new dining Commons; athletic facility improvements, including vastly upgraded Garcelon Field; and Alumni Walk, now a scenic pedestrian thoroughfare that knits two ends of campus. Other recent investments include construction of the Traquina Boathouse; an important multi-year and award-winning restoration of Gomes Chapel; improvements to the terrace between Ladd and Coram libraries, and interior renovations to the Davis Fitness Center. Routine infrastructure improvements, while not immediately visible, have played a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of the campus. In sum, the Bates campus has changed significantly over the years, for the better.

Going forward, our Campus Facilities Master Plan continues to identify the strategic investments needed for Bates to remain a leading liberal arts college that attracts excellent students, faculty, and staff. Specifically, we need to invest in athletic and residential facilities, since these have not kept pace with the renovations on the academic side.

Athletics: While the college’s key athletic structures — Alumni Gym, Gray Athletic Building, Merrill Gymnasium, and Underhill Ice Arena — have undergone modest improvements over the years, there is more work to be done as we continue to support the student experience. Spaces that support well-being are important to our entire community, and improvements in this area benefits everyone. Recognizing that approximately 40 percent of Bates students participate in varsity sports, and many others, plus employees, seek out athletic spaces for club sports, recreational activities, and wellness programs, we are acutely aware of the need to modernize these facilities.

Residential: Bates guarantees housing for all students for all four years of their Bates experience. This commitment requires approximately 1,750 beds. The addition of Chu and Kalperis halls helped alleviate congestion in some residence halls and provided the opportunity to improve others. Moving forward, we look to improve additional student spaces across campus.

The two projects announced at the outset — the 96 Campus Avenue renovation and Russell Street turf conversion— are important steps toward the ambitious goals of improving the athletic, recreation, and residential facilities on campus. Indeed, we remain committed to continued improvement, and our colleagues in Facility Services anticipate a busy year ahead. For those who have questions about our upcoming initiatives, I will be hosting several on-campus sessions in February, discussing the Campus Facilities Master Plan and providing updates on our current status. I’ll send more details on these sessions early next month.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey Swift