Feb 20, 2020

Update on Palmer Auditorium and Sustainability

Dear Members of the Connecticut College Community,

During an open meeting and conversations last week, the Student Government Association raised a number of important questions about College projects and sustainable building practices. We are writing at their suggestion to provide some updates.

Connecticut College has long been a leader in sustainability, purchasing renewable credits and carbon offsets as early as the 1990s. In the past decade, the College has updated its central steam plant and installed geothermal wells to heat and cool New London Hall, leading to a decrease of greenhouse gas emissions. More recently, President Katherine Bergeron established a Sustainability Council with representatives from across the College. The committee is charged with helping direct long-term institutional initiatives around sustainability.

Sustainability is a fundamental goal for all campus building projects. Consistent with the College’s Campus Master Plan and Campus Sustainability Plan, the Palmer renovation incorporates sustainable principles and upgrades that are guided by LEED standards while also respecting the historical significance of the building. Like many colleges and universities, rather than investing in the major administrative costs of LEED certification, Conn reallocates those resources to individual projects.

It is important to note that rehabilitating a historic building, with its embodied energy, is a sustainable practice that also reduces landfill waste.

Some of the sustainable aspects of the Palmer project include:

  • New roof, six times more efficient

  • New windows, three times more efficient

  • New LED stage and house lighting

  • New more efficient HVAC system

  • Low-flow toilets

  • Reintroduction of natural light into the theater

  • Accessibility is also a sustainable principle, and now all classrooms and offices are fully accessible, as well as the building itself. An elevator will also be installed.

  • Geothermal is not specified for this project but is being explored as part of a larger “district” approach for south campus that would affect Cummings, Bill Hall, south residences as well as Palmer. For this reason, the mechanical systems going into Palmer will be appropriate for a future geothermal hookup.

We are also considering other green generation sources, such as solar, for construction projects. Chad Jones, associate professor of botany and environmental studies and faculty director of the Office of Sustainability, is working with a group of students and Rocky Ackroyd ’83 to install solar panels on the Service building this summer. The pilot will serve as a model for current and future projects.

The Palmer renovation is the first phase of a long-term approach to enhancing our overall campus infrastructure. Once the project is completed, Palmer will meet or exceed current energy codes, and the new design will allow us to make enhancements to our mechanical systems without disrupting the character and architecture of the building.

We will be meeting with contractors this week and plan to begin construction in March. The renovation will continue through summer 2021 with a grand reopening in fall 2021. 

To learn more about the Palmer project, visit the Campus Master Plan website. 

Please do not hesitate to contact us directly if you have additional questions. 

Sincerely,

Trina Learned
Associate Vice President for Facilities Management and Campus Planning

Rich Madonna
Vice President for Finance and Administration