Students Reflect on Campus Construction
Exeter construction rebuilding a new dining hall and renovating Merrill Hall and Langdell Hall. Austin Desisto / The Exonian
By Phin Gibbs, Amy Lin, Max Mantel, and Elaine Qiao
Throughout the past few weeks, the sounds of Exeter in autumn have been joined by the loud humming of jackhammers and drills. This is the product of the Academy’s new construction efforts, many of which are projected to end in 2024.
On the Academy Lawn, workers are currently implementing 86 new geothermal wells that intend to serve the Academy Building and the new dining hall. This new building, which is set to replace Wetherell Dining Hall—affectionately referred to as “Weth” by students and faculty alike—is also undergoing its own construction, alongside dormitories Merrill and Langdell Hall.
Although these projects have only recently affected campus life, they have been in the works for a few years. “Planning started in 2010 [and continued in] 2011 for the Academy Lawn’s geothermal well field,” project manager Joana Rossi said. “The first construction phase of the well field was completed in 2012. The second phase of the geothermal well field broke ground the week of June 5, 2023.”
Rossi continued to explain the progress being made on each project. “The new geothermal wells are in the testing phase, the geothermal piping will be backfilled, and the lawn replaced. Construction is on schedule to provide a new Academy lawn for graduation in 2024. More tests and commissioning of the system are to be performed and completed in 2024 when Langdell becomes operational after the building renovations. The new dining hall and renovated dorms are scheduled for occupancy next school year.”
At the beginning of the year, students initially struggled to adjust to the new changes. “I know there have been more than one occasion where I’ve been woken up to the sound of a jackhammer coming through my window. Sleep is something that’s very important to me in my daily life, and it really affects how I go through my day, my participation in class, and how I’m feeling,” upper Jackson Lyle said.
For upper Jacquelyn Addo, the construction forced a change in how she walked around campus. “In terms of how [the construction] affected my daily life, walking around those areas became less efficient. Instead of crossing the quad diagonally, I have to walk around on the sidewalk,” Addo said.
However, as the school year has gone on, some students have begun to adapt to the construction. “My window is [faced] right towards the construction,” senior Thomas Roper said. “On the first day, I woke up earlier than I wanted to [because of] the construction, but since [then] that hasn’t really bothered me since the construction’s only there on weekdays… Usually it’s not that loud for me.”
“If you’re working through free blocks [with construction], that can be a little bit tough, but if you’re listening to some good music or just have something to tune it out, then it’s perfectly fine,” upper Adam Tang said.
Other students hold more optimistic views. “In my opinion, the noise and inconvenience doesn’t really bother me. The construction sites are [just] there in the background,” upper Claire Han said. “I’m very excited for the new dining hall and dorm, though, knowing what those buildings used to look like. It’ll be fun to see the new renovations and interior design.”
“Being part of the Langdell community, I’m excited to move back into the new space,” Han added.
Addo agreed. “I’m really excited [about] the new construction, especially because we’ve seen what the new Weth could potentially look like. I miss the vibe of old Weth, so I hope they keep that. Also, since we lived in Merrill and Langdell, I want to see how [they’re] renovated.”
Though lower Sophie Low shares the excitement about the new buildings to come, she noted the lack of transparency about what will happen to students living in New Hall, which currently houses students who originally lived in Merrill and Langdell. “I’m looking forward to the interior of Wetherell, and for dining-staff to work in a more comfortable environment. As a resident of New Hall, [however], information regarding our future dorm situation is pending. Understandably, this will affect other students as well,” she said.
Students have also expressed their desire for a more clear-cut plan of the construction happening on campus. “I feel like it would be [better] if they gave the students and faculty a rough schedule or timeline of the constructions in an email or through other forms of communication,” Addo said.
Despite these concerns, the Academy’s efforts to renovate its buildings and energy sources are certainly positive in the long term. Rossi emphasized how the new dining hall will benefit the community moving forward. “[In the future], the new dining hall will enhance the well-being of all who use it due to the state-of-the-art technology and welcoming aesthetically pleasing interiors,” Rossi said.
Exeter construction installs geothermal wells on Academy lawn. Austin Desisto / The Exonian
