Completed Project
Cutler Completes Residence Halls
WORCESTER, Mass. — Cutler Associates recently completed the renovations of two historic residence halls in New England. Both Mount Holyoke College and the University of New Hampshire elected to use the design-build delivery system to insure that the project was well designed, well built, met budget and strict time constraints.
Safford Hall at Mount Holyoke College, constructed in 1897, occupies a prominent spot on Skinner Green. Utilizing the design-build delivery system, Cutler Design successfully developed a plan for upgrading the building systems within Safford Hall.
This integrated project delivery approach allowed Cutler Design to work with Mount Holyoke Facilities Staff, Residential Life, Engineers, and subcontractors to develop solutions that will provide the best value to Mount Holyoke.
Cutler Design reprogrammed the building to transform an underutilized former dining hall space into student lounges and a “Golden Pear” kitchen area. In addition, two of the floors were redesigned to accommodate the relocation of offices and dorm rooms. At the same time, the team addressed accessibility issues and completely updated the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems while updating the finishes to restore the grandeur of this magnificent structure.
This transformation provided updated building systems and amenities, while maintaining the facility’s historical character and maximizing the total bed count.
The newly renovated hall has air conditioning and is fully accessible with the addition of an elevator and a modified central entry. The project also included replacement of the slate roof, exterior masonry repairs, and drainage improvements.