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Campus Planning and Construction

Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ has invested nearly $300 million over the last 30 years to achieve the academic, residential, and student-centric goals of the College.  

It started with four buildings: Reynolds, Tea House, Tower, and Grove Hall. Those four buildings were the humble beginnings for 38 students representing eight states in 1939, the year Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ began its higher education journey. Over 75 years later, Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ’s 56 buildings are strategically spread across a 235-acre parcel of ocean side property. Thirty-three of those buildings act as home away from home residence halls for Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ students and three private beaches are their personal playground.

Unravel Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ’s transformation, brick-by-brick, to learn about the projects that are currently underway to enhance the college’s diverse and integrated academic programming, the departments that are dedicated to executing these expansive plans, and the community members who work tirelessly to make this one of the premiere college campuses in the country.

Latest Construction Projects

Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences

Opened in September of 2023, The Cummings School of Nursing and Health Sciences is a modern expression of academic excellence with four floors featuring contemporary flourishes and soaring views over campus and the Atlantic Ocean. Critically, the building also brings together nursing and sport science students for collaborative opportunities, allying the health sciences under one roof.

Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ College's new Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences

Campus Development Timeline

Navigate through the history of Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ’s campus development then study our interactive campus map to see how academia, residence life, campus life, and athletics all tie into creating one of the nation’s most recognizable campuses.

  • 1939 to 1959

    1939 The College purchased the former Herbert M. Sears estate on June 6, 1939 (Reynolds Hall, Tea House, Tower Hall, Grove Hall). The College opened September 18, 1939 with 38 students from 8 states.

    1940 Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ acquired the William Amory Gardner Estate (College Hall & Research Center/Brooks Hall, Trexler Hall).

    1943 The Bryce Allen (Allanbank) estate was purchased. Included what is now Tupper Hall/Manor, The Wylie Inn, Van Loan School, and The Cottage.

    1944 John Barry Ryan estate was purchased and named Winthrop Hall. The College now owned 82 acres of land and 15 buildings.

    1950 Rogers Hall completed.

    1952 Children’s Center completed.

    1954 The former Sears estate garage was enlarged and became Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ's first Science Center.

    1954 Trexler Hall became the College's first Library.

    1955 Bierkoe Auditorium and Gymnasium built.

    1958 Williston Hall constructed and named for advisor Arthur Williston. Ebinger Hall built and named for trustee Henry Ebinger.

    1959 Birchmont built as the home for the President and family.

  • 1960 to 1998

    1960 Stoneridge Hall purchased from Robert Proctor.

    1961 (November 9) fire destroyed Bullock Hall.

    1962 The Art Center was completed.

    1964 The Student Center was completed.

    1965 Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Library completed. Dedicated to Diane Meyers Halle in 2002.

    1967 East residence hall was built. Later, renamed Brindle Hall.

    1969 The Science Wing of the academic Center was completed.

    1979 Interfaith chapel dedicated.

    1980 The West wing of Academic Center completed.

    1980 The Children’s Center set ablaze by an arsonist.

    1982 Stoneridge Hall burned to the ground.

    1984 Porter, Williston, Woodside Halls, and campus Cottage sold to the Landmark School.

    1988 First Townhouses built, later named Williston Townhouses.

    1994 The North Field was constructed and athletic events moved to the main campus.

    1996 Kennedy Hall apartment complex completed.

    1996 Wax Center addition to the Academic Center was completed.

    1998 The College purchased  40 acres of land from Beverly Hospital. This is the land upon which Stoneridge, Bayview, Marblehead, and Standish Halls were built. Farm House and the Ledge were acquired as part of the purchase.

  • 1999 to 2005

    1999 Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Hall was built.

    1999 The Post Center for Sports Science and Fitness Studies was completed.

    1999 Modular Housing (Village) was purchased (24 modular units) for temporary housing.

    1999 Hale Hall, previously the Children's Center, was renovated into a residence hall (21 students).

    2000 Cliff House was purchased.

    2000 Physical Plant's Operations Center was built.

    2001 Beacon Hall addition.

    2002 New Stoneridge Hall completed.

    2002 Library addition opened and The Diane Meyers Halle library dedicated.

    2003 Van Loan School of Graduate and Professional Studies was built in the former  Bullock Hall.

    2003 - 2010 Conference Center Tupper/Meeting House completed over a number of years creating the Wylie Inn and Conference Center which opened in 2006. Ebinger Hall converted to Wylie Inn in 2007.

    2003 College purchased Misselwood and the Misselwood Carriage House (a Felton Property built in 1928).

    2004 Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Purchased the Rockport House.

    2005 The Lodge was built and opened in fall of 2005 as a student meeting space.

    2005 Woodside, townhouses were built. 

    2005 Bayview Hall was built.

  • 2006 to 2012

    2006 College Hall was expanded to add additional administrative offices.

    2006 Grove Hall was converted from a residence hall to the campus pub and gathering space.

    2006 Softball field was created with seating for 500 and additional standing room for 1,500.

    2006 – 2007 The Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Research Center was built on the site of the former Brooks Hall.

    2007 Gloucester and Manchester Halls were built, adding a total of 16 apartments.

    2008 Wenham and Hamilton Halls were purchased from the Tuckerman family.

    2008 Hawthorne Hall was built.

    2008 Campus safety building was razed and rebuilt.

    2009 The Visual and Performing Arts Center was completed and named the Walter J. Manninen Center for the Arts.

    2010 Amphitheater Plaza overlooking the lakes completed.

    2011 Beechwood acquired as home of the president.

    2010 First Post Center addition to add fitness equipment and a work-out space.

    2011 Birchmont Hall was converted from the president’s home to a residence hall.

    2011 Marblehead Hall was built.

    2012 Stadium Locker Room was built.

    2012  Boston Center opened, a non-traditional, higher-education resource focused on serving immigrant populations and first generation college students.

    2012 Opened Gloucester site for undergraduate and graduate courses, corporate education, workforce development, and community activities.

    2012 Essex Hall was purchased

  • 2013 to 2021

    2013 The Montessori School was purchased and became the Center for Nursing.

    2013 Solar parking lot opened for 260 cars, one of the largest in the area.

    2013 The Curtis L. Gerrish School of Business and Ginger Judge Science Center dedicated and opened.

    2014 The Callahan Center was renovated and expanded to provide more dining space and student service offices.

    2015 Gully’s opened in the Samuel C. Wax Academic Center.

    2015 The Raymond J. Bourque Arena was built.

    2015 Standish Hall opened, providing apartments for senior students.

    2016 Peter Frates Hall opened for first-year students. Frates Hall was dedicated on September 13, 2016.

    2016 Addition to Brindle Hall completed, featuring study spaces overlooking the ocean.

    2017 The second Post Center addition was completed, adding weight rooms, offices, and conference space.

    2018 New parking structure completed.

    2019 Doors open to Phase I of the brand new Samuel C. Wax Academic Center.
    The Ginger Judge Science Center expansion was completed, along with the new location for Gully’s.
    Myrt Harper Rose Hall opened for upperclassmen housing.

    2020: Hempstead Commons opened in late 2020 and features modern classroom space, faculty offices, The Cleary Lecture Hall, and EAT cafe.

  • 2022 to 2023
    2023 Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ unveils new Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences. The Cummings School is a modern expression of academic excellence with four floors featuring contemporary flourishes and soaring views over campus and the Atlantic Ocean. Critically, the building also brings together nursing and sport science students for collaborative opportunities, allying the health sciences under one roof. The Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ Hospital—comprising three advanced laboratories equipped with innovative educational technologies, high-fidelity simulators, interactive lab spaces, traditional classrooms, advanced tools, and other immersive environments—offers nursing students a space to learn and practice the skills needed to succeed in their careers. Occupying the third and fourth floors is the School of Sport Science. Athletic training and exercise science students will build and strengthen their clinical skills in three state-of-the-art laboratory spaces, including the human performance lab, therapeutic lab, and modalities lab with a hydrotherapy room. The building was officially opened in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 5th, 2023 that drew members of the Gull and Boston communities as well as Bill and Joyce Cummings of Cummings Foundation, whose historic $20 million partnership with the College inspired and laid the groundwork for the new Cummings School of Nursing & Health Sciences. 
Scenic photo of the Center for the Arts and surrounding landscape

Campus Maintenance and Grounds

An indispensable staff of campus caregivers, the Facilities Management department at Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ works tirelessly to maintain its beauty and modern functionality. 
Two Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ students standing behind a large container filled with cans to be recycled

Sustainable Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ

Î÷¹ÏÊÓƵ is dedicated to providing academic, residential, and communal spaces that respect the environmental footprint the College leaves behind. Learn more about our sustainability practices and initiatives.