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Barnard Builds

This is a time of historic momentum for Barnard College as it continues to build on its excellence through a variety of initiatives. Continuing to expand, renovate, and improve the College’s buildings and facilities remains a strong focus. 

Building Work Hours:

Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturdays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
**Work after 6 p.m. is not intended, but should it be required at certain stages of the projects, it can and will only be conducted with an approved After Hours Variance permit from the Department of Buildings. These activities will be communicated well in advance.

The Americans with Disabilities Act

ADA Access to Milbank Hall has changed, moving to the Toddler Center door on Broadway and 120th Street for the duration of the Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center project. At times, the 119th Street gate will also be open so that those traveling north or south on campus may use the sidewalk on Broadway as another alternative to the steps between Milbank and the Diana Center. When closed, those seeking ADA access can contact a CARES Community Safety Officer (212-854-3362) for support.

Noise Impact Scale 

To help you gauge the expected noise levels and better prepare members of our community for what to expect, we’ve provided a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the quietest and 5 being loud and potentially disruptive:

1 out of 5: Quiet, typical indoor construction, minimally heard from outside the area of work.
2 out of 5: Noticeable but not very disruptive (e.g., an engine whirring intermittently).
3 out of 5: Moderate noise (e.g., periodic hammering with hand tools).
4 out of 5: Louder, more significant noise impact (e.g., emptying dumpsters/dump trucks collecting material).
5 out of 5: Loud (e.g., jackhammer operating on concrete or rock). 

Look Ahead - What to Expect This Week

Altschul Hall (which will become the Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center) / Claremont Avenue

  • Parking or Street Impacts: Parking will be impacted on Claremont Avenue from November 15 to November 17. Department of Transportation (DOT) signage will be posted. Parking will be restored on November 18.
  • Extended Hours: 
    • Crane work: See “Special Operations” below.
    • Demolition: Limited interior demolition work will extend beyond the normal hours listed on the website. During these extended hours, workers will use the hoist for access only, and it will not run continuously. 
    • Concrete Finishing: While not expected, concrete operations sometimes require quiet finishing work to continue after hours. You may see workers on site, but noise should be minimal.
  • Noisy Work:
    • Foundation and Concrete Work (4 out of 5): Concrete trucks, pumps, and machinery will operate on Claremont Avenue for the building expansion on the north side of Altschul Hall through the end of the year. No regular jackhammering is expected.
    • Debris Removal (5 out of 5): Noise from debris removal may peak at 5 out of 5 at times but will generally remain lower throughout the day.
    • ConEd Vaults (5 out of 5): Excavation work on the ConEd electrical vaults is underway, primarily within the site. Excavation is expected to continue for the next 4-6 weeks.
  • Special Operations:
    • We are sharing a reminder about expected crane work this weekend — Friday, 11/15, through Monday, 11/18. Please refer to last Friday’s Barnard Builds email for more details. Should these plans change due to weather, we will communicate that separately. Anticipated noise impact during sidewalk shed disassembly is 4 out of 5, during crane assembly/disassembly is 2 out of 5, and during steel erection is 3 out of 5, as there is a safety horn required. 
      • Please note that crane operations in NYC are subject to strict weather conditions. If weather prevents us from using the crane on the scheduled weekend, the backup dates will be the following weekend, November 23 and 24. We will alert you separately if a change in plans is needed.

Barnard Hall (which will house the Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being)

  • On Saturday, November 16, concrete demolition will occur from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anticipated noise impact is 5 out of 5.
  • Claremont Avenue:
    • Work will take place at the future 24 Claremont entrance, with the work area cordoned off and the sidewalk kept clear. Anticipated noise impact is 1 out of 5.

If you are a member of the Barnard College on-campus community and have questions about specific campus impacts, please reference the Barnard Builds newsletter or email barnardbuilds@barnard.edu.

Overview

View from entrance of Milbank in the spring

Barnard College’s Office of Capital Projects oversees all construction projects on campus under the Barnard Builds umbrella. Led by the Capital Projects Division, the staff oversees new construction projects, renovations, and major repair and replacement projects for all campus buildings. The Capital Projects team manages outside vendors and consultants, including architects, construction managers or contractors for major construction projects. Email Barnard Builds with questions or concerns.

The projects operate in compliance with health and safety guidelines from the New York City Department of Buildings, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Transportation. The site logistics and flow of foot and vehicle traffic have been reviewed by the Department of Transportation and changed at the direction of that agency.

Construction Projects

For more information, email barnardbuilds@barnard.edu.
For noise-related inquiries or other impact reports, call (212) 854-3362.