Construction Continues into the Fall Season

Photo by Giancarlo Sepulveda

The construction taking place around Ramapo College campus over summer break has yet to be fully completed, even as classes are in session.

Currently, renovations are taking place around the Birch Tree Inn, blocking off a significant portion of the Atrium dining area, and the outdoor walkway between the Student Center and the B-Wing of the Academic Complex.

In order to make up for the lost dining space, there has been a temporary partition built between the Atrium and the Birch Tree Inn. Additional seats have also been set up outside to facilitate peak lunch hours.

Meanwhile, the College Park Apartments are also being renovated. The construction in the International House was completed before the start of the semester, but Science Hall and Mimosa are still undergoing construction during the fall.

Over the summer, construction has also taken place in the Student Center and the academic building. Several of the entrances have received new exterior doors and work was done on underground utilities on the first floor dining areas and the west side of the Student Center. Bathrooms in the Student Center were also renovated.

The construction team anticipates work on the academic building “to be complete by the end of October,” according to the Daily Digest. 

The incomplete construction has aroused various responses from the campus community.

“The construction going on in dining services is not only disruptive to our Ramapo community, it is the result of a bad choice made by our college. The main reason for the construction being done in Birch Tree Inn is to make it more pleasing to the eye, meaning Ramapo chose to spend thousands of dollars to make something look nicer,” said senior Kaitlyn Garrison.

Garrison went on to state that she believes the money spent to renovate the dining hall would have been better spent on the Potter Library or expanding student parking.

“Construction that was supposed to be finished in August will not be completed until November which looks bad on us as a college to show freshmen and potential new students we could not complete a project in the time allotted,” Garrison said.

“I don’t have a meal plan, but I live on campus and the construction does not benefit me. It’s definitely an eye sore so I’d be happier if it wasn’t taking place,” said Kiersten Schaefer.

Ramapo College has been keeping the campus community updated on the progress of the construction through the Daily Digest, providing dates and locations of construction areas and giving safety reminders.

As construction is undergoing, students, faculty and staff should be extra attentive to their safety and time management, expecting extra travel time to classes.

ppark1@ramapo.edu