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Take a tour through the newly renovated St. Mary’s Hall, and one word comes up repeatedly in conversations about the changes to the 98-year-old building, the second oldest on the Boston College campus.
Brighter.
A combination of structural improvements and restorative projects over the past two years has made a noticeable difference to the interior hallways and common areas in St. Mary’s, which often seemed dim and dark even on the sunniest days.
The principal residence for Boston College’s Jesuit community, St. Mary’s now has an additional function as the new location for the Woods College of Advancing Studies as well as the Communication and Computer Science departments. All are housed in the building’s new South Wing, which has a separate entrance and offers no public access to the Jesuits’ residential quarters.
The building officially reopened this month, although St. Mary’s Chapel hosted its first Mass on Dec. 8, and Jesuits began moving back in that same week. Woods College, Communication and Computer Science administrators, faculty and staff followed suit last week. During this period, both new and longtime St. Mary’s tenants took stock of the refurbished structure and saw a lot to like.
“A building is a building, but when occupied it becomes something special,” said Jesuit Community Rector Robert Keane, SJ. “Having St. Mary’s open again makes a strong statement to our mission as Jesuits of being a presence at BC.”
“It looked old, and felt old,” said Michael Ford, SJ, assistant rector and administrator, who came to BC in 2002. “Now, St. Mary’s seems refreshed, renewed.”
“For me, the greatest joy about the reopening of St. Mary’s is that we may exercise once again our luncheon hospitality for faculty, staff and students,” said Kraft Family Professor of Philosophy James Bernauer, SJ, who is not a St. Mary’s resident but takes his meals in the hall’s dining room. “Many of us have felt that loss and we return with a renewed appreciation for how distinctive it is to have a welcoming Jesuit community at the center of a university campus.”
On one recent day, Associate Professor of Communication Ann Marie Barry paused in her unpacking to admire her department’s new location. “We’re all excited to be here, not just because of the beauty that surrounds us but because of the heritage of St. Mary’s, one of BC’s original buildings, and all of the memories it holds.”
The two-year renovation included large-scale and complex work on the building’s cast stones – involving the removal of some 18,000 pieces that were replaced by more than 15,000 pieces – a complete repair of the roof, and replacement of 466 windows, according to Associate Vice President for Capital Projects Mary Nardone and Senior Construction Project Manager Thomas Runyon.
Among other changes, the number of Jesuit living quarters was reduced to 30 (with three additional rooms for guests), but each unit now has its own bathroom; the reception area was moved across from the main lobby; all of the building, including St. Mary’s Chapel, is air-conditioned; a chapel for the Jesuit residence was added; the courtyard area in the building’s rear was restored and reconfigured; and a kitchenette was added to a refurbished Jesuit living room/common area.
The South Wing encompasses 10 offices and one conference room each for Woods College (located on the ground floor) and the Computer Science Department (second floor); there are 29 offices and two conference rooms for Communication, which occupies the third and fourth floors.
“The overall goal was to maintain the historical character of St. Mary’s while improving its functionality and efficiency, and also give it a more open, inviting look,” said Nardone. “There also was the challenge of integrating space for academic and administrative use – the South Wing – with St. Mary’s residential component.
“Fortunately, everyone associated with the project did a phenomenal job, from the construction to the space management aspects. We’ve heard many compliments.”
For longtime St. Mary’s residents, staff and visitors, the most eye-catching change is the brighter interior – a result of stone recasting, window glass and light fixture replacements, wood restoration and other improvements.
Nardone and Runyon cited one reason for the dusky appearance inside St. Mary’s prior to the renovation: decades of tobacco smoke that built up on the surfaces. The general decline in smoking should help in maintaining St. Mary’s recaptured glow, they said.
All of which sat very well with Theology Professor Emeritus Harvey Egan, SJ. While he certainly appreciated the fellowship and amenities he found in St. Mary’s, his first impression upon arriving in 1975 was not particularly favorable. “The walls were painted dark green, and there was a general mustiness to the hall; I had to clean off the TV screen in the lounge once a week because of all the smoke.
“But I love what they’ve done with the place, how they’ve made it lighter and brighter, and really brought out the beauty within.”