Project Highlights

December 15, 2007--Several generations of Andover students have enjoyed sustenance and friendship in the dining halls of Commons. Since its opening in 1930, Commons has served as an integral center of many students’ lives on the Hill. With only one renovation in the past 78 years, the most-frequented building on campus is ready for its transformation.

Among the main goals of the ambitious $30-million project, which was approved by the Board of Trustees last January, are:

• Enhance and diversify the Commons dining experience to better support its function as the primary gathering place for the Andover community.
• Expand and transform student social space in Commons, and create new outdoor social spaces around Commons.
• Replace the building’s kitchen and serveries in order to upgrade menu variety and quality.
• Replace systems and infrastructure and make Commons fully handicapped accessible.
• Create an environmentally responsible building that meets LEED certification requirements.
• Retain and restore the historic interiors that make Commons such a compelling and memorable environment.

Some of the specific improvements to be completed as part of the project include the creation of centralized food preparation and service areas on both floors that will feature multiple serving stations and, on the first floor, a massive hearth oven; an extended-hours café; a refurbished and expanded Ryley Room (the student snack and leisure area); new terraces and seating areas in front of Commons and along its west side, and a sunken terrace outside the Ryley Room; new lighting and other visual enhancements to upgrade the entire dining experience; and wireless Internet access throughout. The result, as Chase explains in the Winter 2008 issue of the Bulletin, will be a facility that is more than just a dining hall. It will be a true center of community social interaction.

Equally important is the project’s sensitivity to the building’s historical significance. The plans developed by Schwartz/Silver Architects of Boston call for the preservation of the historic and aesthetic assets of this 1930 landmark, such as the limestone staircases, Georgian Style paneling, and chandeliers – all designed by campus architect Charles Adams Platt—and the Barry Faulkner murals.

Environmental concerns are also a driving force in the remaking of Commons, with decisions being made to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification through the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council. LEED ratings provide an internationally recognized system for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, and productive work places.

The completed project, Chase says will “turn that beloved facility into a gracious and lively center for both students and faculty—a place to greet and meet classmates, colleagues, and friends, to collaborate on projects, to socialize and have special events. With the changes we are making, Commons will become a true community center where students and faculty can gather at all hours of the day and evening for both work and play.”

Until that day, projected for the spring of 2009, the decommissioned Sumner Smith Rink, located south of the gym, will serve as the Academy’s interim dining hall. Renovations of Smith Rink (which students have nicknamed “UnCommons”) began last summer and include two large modular kitchens and seating for nearly 600. The inclusion of special lighting fixtures and AV capabilities also make the space suitable for special events.

A custom mobile food van, the “Ryley Roller,” will park across from the Andover Inn to provide a light breakfast for students on the go, as well as late afternoon and evening snacks. In an effort to afford students addition social meeting space while Commons is closed, the Academy has refurnished two additional spaces on campus—the Underwood Room and the Adrian C. Israel Student Lounge in George Washington Hall.

Funding for Commons renovations began with a $10 million lead gift from David S. Paresky ’56 and his wife, Linda, in honor of Paresky’s 50th Reunion. An additional $4 million has been raised to date, including a gift of $2 million from Charter Trustee Thomas C. Israel ’62 and an anonymous parent pledge of $1 million.

Architects for both the Commons renovation and the revamping of the ice rink for UnCommons are Schwartz/Silver Architects Inc. of Boston. Ricca Newmark Design has developed and will oversee redesign of the food preparation and service areas.

Key Building Features

Featuring an expansive hearth-oven, the first-floor servery will have a 15-foot ceiling, and newly exposed windows at the back of the building. The upstairs setup will be designed specifically to better handle larger groups attending special events.

Café at Commons

Along the inside wall of Lower Left a 20-foot curved-end serving counter, paneled to match surrounding woodwork will be crafted. This new café will offer a variety of foods—including sandwiches, bagels, snacks, fruits, and beverages—from early morning until late evening. Encouraging students and faculty to linger and chat, the café will become a community gathering place.

Ryley Room (to be renamed, "The Den")

The Ryley Room—the student body’s primary place for socialization and weekend entertainment—will be expanded and refurbished, and a new stairwell just outside of Lower Right will greatly improve access. A small retail food facility will sell hot and cold snacks, energy bars, fruit drinks, muffins, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

Treasuring the Past

As a school that promotes community and inclusiveness, Andover must preserve Commons. This building serves not only as a place for students, faculty, and staff to gather, but also as a reminder of those who have walked before us. Boys and girls often comment that what they appreciate most about Commons is the historical aspect—for nearly a century, students have walked down the marble stairs inside the building. That sense of history is unique to Andover and to the Commons experience. It is with respect and appreciation for the past that we preserve Commons for the future.

LEED Certified

The Commons renovation project has been designed—and ongoing decisions will be made—with the goal of obtaining LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. LEED ratings, awarded by the nonprofit U.S. Green Building Council, provide an internationally recognized system for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain, and have a reduced environmental footprint.

For more information about giving opportunities associated with the Commons restoration, please contact the Office of Academy Resources at 978-749-4270.