The demolition of the Business Office, clearing the way for a new residence hall, began Monday, July 31, and was completed within days. The new dormitory, expected to open in the 2024–25 school year, will house 25 or 26 students and include two faculty apartments, a common room, and a physical connection to Warham Hall, even though the new building will have a different name.

With this residence hall project, the goal is to move all boarding students onto or close to the three main quadrangles, to have Longman Hall no longer serve as a small dormitory, and to remove the temporary modular additions to Palmer and Harman Halls. This building project was made possible by a $15 million gift to the school from Trustee Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan ’87 and her husband, Patrick J. Scanlan, $7 million of which is directed toward the new residence hall.

In late June through July 30 before the Business Office building came down the water main in the area was relocated in preparation for the new residence hall.

Other summer projects by the Physical Plant:

• In mid-August paving on the back loop was completed, adding several new parking spots with the completion of that project.
• The Olcott Center roof was replaced in July.
• Several October Glory trees, a variety of red maple, were planted along Island Road near Sellers Field.
• A tennis pavilion adjacent to the Shea Tennis Courts was added in June to complete work on The Way.

The Information Technologies Department was busy, too. Projects included:

• Installation of a permanent sound system on Pratt Field.
• Significant improvements in streaming capacity for the Performing Arts Department.
• An upgrade in 10 classrooms with modern projection and wireless air-stream technology.
• Installation of four upgraded servers.