Charles Village work approaches - Deadline for Charles Commons building set for fall 2006
By Francesca Hansen · The Johns Hopkins News-Letter · September 2, 2004
Construction on Hopkins' long awaited Charles Commons broke ground this week, a few months later than expected.
Situated on the Northeast quadrant of the intersection of 33rd Street and N. Charles Street, the two buildings will primarily consist of student housing and will include a cafeteria and student lounge area, as well as meeting areas. Should construction proceed according to plan, the facility will be open for the fall of 2006.
"We were holding our breath during the last weeks of the semester, hoping we could actually initiate construction," said Paula Burger, Vice Dean of Undergraduate Education.
Burger attributed some initial slowdowns for the project to hazard mitigation such as asbestos clearing before demolition. As it stands now, construction leaders are waiting for the final removal of electricity by Baltimore Gas & Electric, planned for Sept. 3. Demolition will then begin "on or around Sept. 7," according to Dave McDonough, senior director of development oversight for Johns Hopkins Real Estate.
The wrecking ball and demolition crews will be readying the site for the new foundations to be laid sometime in November, McDonough said. With construction under way for almost two years, McDonough said one of the largest immediate concerns was pedestrian safety. The trailers and barriers encircling the construction area have closed off the sidewalks of East 33rd Street and the West side of St. Paul, a barrier that may prove hazardous for pedestrians.
"We hope students will be cautious -- we just do not students to walk on the streets. We just urge students to please be careful there," Burger said. Hopkins has recently gained approval to create a makeshift sidewalk out of concrete barriers, or "Jersey walls," to funnel pedestrians out of harm's way. In the meantime, a flagman engaged by Hopkins perches on the Southeast corner of Charles and 33rd Streets to warn Hopkins of the dangers of the road.
Another construction concern is the noise that will fill the area in the upcoming years. "You can't build buildings without a certain level of activity," Burger said.
Students living in the Charles and Blackstone buildings overlooking the site can expect somewhat modified hours of construction, but construction will continue on an essentially normal construction schedule, with consideration for study hours.
"We've told them we want them to respect our exam schedule," Burger said.
As for the interior of the buildings, the design team is well underway deciding the details and finishing touches to the community spaces and eating areas of the new complex.
However, they must juggle budget restraints, creative input and student feedback. Burger said that the compromises have been minor so far, "Like the grade of a kitchen counter -- you can't have everything."
Additionally, much of the planning so far is conceptual, with the final details to be hashed out over the course of the next two years.
"The message all along has been to provide a sense of community and create a space where people can come together, as well as a sense of privacy and daily amenities," Burger said.
At the suggestion of the Student Council, for example, stovetops have been installed in meeting rooms. While crude sketches of the lounging spaces have met with positive reviews by students, Burger said they are working toward having the more specific plans reviewed by the entire student population in the upcoming weeks.
Ideas are still in flux for a food service area on 33rd Street that would accommodate changing needs of students, from day to night and from summer to winter.
It is unclear whether the convenience station will be serviced by Sodexho, an external contractor or a combination of the two.
For breakfast, for example, Burger said Sodexho might be able to fill students' needs. "If Sodexho could provide that level of muffin, it might be that Sodexho would provide that," she said.
On campus, changes in the eating schedule are set to compensate for the closing of Royal Farms, the popular late night convenience store famed for its 24-hour fried chicken. Late night hours at MegaBytes and Wolman Grill are set to extend at least until midnight for the coming semester.
From the interior to construction changes, coordinators for the project are ready for a number of transformations before the project is entirely finished.
"Over the next 24 months, we'll have a lot of challenges between now and the finish line," McDonough said.