As the Spring Semester ends, construction on the Cornell campus shifts into high gear. As with last year, the Cornell Review lets you know what changes are in the works.
Continuing Projects
Construction is wrapping up at North Balch Hall, which is scheduled to reopen in the fall. South Balch will reopen in September 2025. Balch was built as a women-only dorm in 1929, with centralized lounge spaces to promote highly-supervised, limited visitation by men. The original dining room was later converted into the Tatkon Center. Balch’s capacity will increase from 436 to 470 beds, four new elevators will be added, and lounge spaces will be distributed throughout the building. The work will cost $60 million, or $128,000 per bed.
The repointing of Uris Library and the McGraw Tower as well as roof repair will continue until November 2024.
The 30,000 sq ft addition to Thurston Hall started in January 2023 and is expected to continue through this summer. The new space will house the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering.
Atkinson Hall on Tower Road will be substantially completed in June 2024 with final completion in August. The 104,000 gross sq ft building was made possible by a $30 million gift from David R. Atkinson ’60 and Patricia Atkinson.
Work on Ann Bowers Hall will continue through 2025 next to the Grumman Squash Courts. This building occupies the site of the historic Hoy Baseball Field.
The Plant Sciences Building on the Ag Quad is undergoing a 30-month interior renovation expected to be completed in January 2026.
Meinig Field House
A $55 million field house named after Peter C. Meinig ‘61 will be built on the Alumni Field next to the Robert J Kane track. Construction will begin in the fall and last until 2026. The building will house an indoor artificial turf field for lacrosse and field hockey games.
Sibley Dome Renovation
The middle portion of Sibley Hall was built in 1901 to connect the other two sections, East and West Sibley. Starting in June, this middle section will undergo an extensive $10 million renovation that will include adding a large window on its north wall overlooking Fall Creek Gorge. A new 100-seat auditorium will be added under the actual dome, and studio space will surround it. The work includes new bathrooms and asbestos abatement. Leaks in the dome will be fixed. The Green Dragon Cafe will be restored to its current location after the work is completed.
The fraternity house at 120 Mary Ann Woods Dr will be converted into swing office space to accommodate faculty and staff displaced by other construction projects.
Restoration work continues on the restoration of the War Memorial Arch between Lyons and McFaddin Halls on West Campus.
Zeta Psi’s roof will be replaced, and the first phase of Delta Tau Delta’s $1.5 million renovation will begin. The on-going renovation of Alpha Phi Alpha is scheduled to be completed over the summer.
The Roitman Chabad Center on West Campus is building a two-story, 10,000 sq ft addition.
Child Care Center swing space in the Robert Purcell Community Center will be built.
