Photo by Ellie Pyper/The Choate News
During a school meeting last February, Head of School Dr. Alex Curtis shared plans for the reconstruction of Hill House. Although the fire started by a lightning strike in the summer of 2019 had been contained to a small area of the building, extensive water damage prompted the School’s eventual plans to redesign both the exterior and interior of the building. To promote symmetry, an extension will be built on the right side of the building where the Class of 1961 Archway stood. For the interior, a new faculty lounge, private dining areas, college counseling spaces, student dorms, and faculty residences will be built.
When the School closed its campus in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the construction of Hill House halted. However, by June, construction continued with new safety measures for onsite workers, such as wearing personal protective equipment and conducting daily health screenings.
Chief Financial Officer Mr. Patrick Durbin said, “In construction projects, one of the biggest risks is bad weather. You lose construction days because of the rain. Luckily, we had a dry summer, so there really hasn’t been anything unplanned.”
Over the past month, the construction workers have also been working hard to make the building weather-resistant before the approaching winter season. The roof is currently being rebuilt, and the placement of exterior windows is planned to take place by January.
Though the renovation of Hill House has been running smoothly, it has affected students living in nearby dormitories. Tiffany Xiao ’23, a resident of Hall, said, “While I’m very excited for the reconstruction and reopening of Hill House, it’s sometimes inconvenient when construction takes place in the morning when I have a sleep-in or when I’m doing work.”
West Wing resident Sydney Alleyne ’23 said, “Though the construction noises sometimes wake me up in the morning, it’s interesting to see the construction process, and I’m excited to finally go into Hill House.”
Once completed, a corridor near the back of the building will connect St. John Hall, the Hill House Dining Hall, and the Andrew Mellon Library into one large complex. “It’s great to see the building starting to take shape,” said Mr. Durbin. “It’s going to be a great hub for that quad and a focal point of campus. In the courtyard, the building will be accessible by ramp, so it really provides better connectivity.”
Hill House is set to open in the fall of 2021. As of now, no architectural plans for the building have changed, and construction has remained within budget. Though loud mornings accompany the current construction process for some students, when completed, Hill House will once again be a space for the Choate community to enjoy.
