BC Prepares for McIntosh Demolition

Last week, Barnard students picked up a brush, chose a color, selected their favorite memory of the Millicent McIntosh Center, and painted the walls of the 38-year-old building to say goodbye.

In early June, Mac's walls are set to crumble to the ground to make way for the construction of Barnard's new student center, the Nexus.

This year, the renovation and construction process has been preparing to make way for the Nexus, which will include a new black box theater, extended space for student clubs, and new dining and informal meeting areas.

Barnard has been renovating the quad lounge in order to house a new temporary admissions and visitor's center, and the Altschul Hall-McIntosh lower level has been undergoing major construction, severing the tunnel link to Milbank Hall. The Brooks Living Room is also being renovated and will be restored to its original level of comfort and "armchair beauty" according the Nexus Web site.

"Our biggest concern, frankly, is the staff people and summer programs here during the summer," Barnard Provost Elizabeth Boylan said. Staff and summer program participants have voiced concern about increased noise levels due to demolition. Boylan has also expressed concern about scientific research that goes on in Altschul and Milbank.

Several student clubs and college offices have gotten the boot from Mac, including the College Activities Office, which is to be relocated on the first floor of Brooks Hall, and the Multicultural Affairs Office, which will have a temporary home on the first floor of Reid Hall. The Barnard Bulletin, Student Government Association, McIntosh Activities Council, and Skip Stop/Commuter Lounge which will also move to the second floor of Brooks.

Many clubs forced to moves have expressed satisfaction with the level of support that they have received from the administration and the College Activities Office, which aided them throughout the process. Take Back the Night, which was located in a Reid Hall space known as the Reid Women's Collective, has expressed displeasure with its temporary office space, which is much smaller than what it had in McIntosh. Participants said that they had received assurance that they would not have to relocate due to the Nexus' construction.

"We are doing our best to anticipate problems and deal with them when they come up," said Joanne Kwong, a spokeswoman for Barnard.

Dining will also change significantly next year for Barnard students. To compensate for the lost dining space in McIntosh, the Hewitt Dining Hall will have extended hours with changing meal options throughout the day. Those on the unlimited meal plan will be able to swipe in as often as they like.

Students will now be able to use meal plan points, Dining Dollars, Flex points, and cash at both Hewitt and Java City. Java City will be relocated to the Altschul Atrium and will feature an expanded menu.

When students return in the fall, they can expect "minimally intrusive construction noise" during work days, according to the Nexus Web site. The steel superstructure of the building is scheduled to be completed by this time, followed by the glass "curtain wall" that will make it possible for students to view activity on Broadway while using the facility.