Less than a year after Waterbury Hall closed for an $8.8 million facelift and update, the residence hall opened its doors for 230 student residents. At first glance, students will notice the striking new entrance to the 56-year-old building. The atrium-like entranceway, designed to save costs and energy, serves as a solar chimney to pull in cooler air during warm months to the building’s upper levels. Students will enjoy new lounges on each floor, new windows and a lakeside terrace. All the furnishings are new. Upgrades to the technology, mechanical systems and roof will improve life within the building as well. The restrooms have been updated in modern configurations and offers gender neutral restrooms as well. The renovated Waterbury has added eight additional rooms and three kitchens, and all floors, rooms and common spaces are now wheelchair accessible. This is the first major renovation to the building since its creation. Work was completed by general contractor PAC & Associates of Oswego. King & King Architects of Syracuse, working with Facilities Services’ major projects unit, designed the project to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold standards of sustainability. The building was named for Edwin M. Waterbury, a former editor and publisher of the Oswego Palladium-Times and chairman of the Board of Visitors (now the College Council). He helped Oswego evolve into a degree-granting teachers’ college in the 1940s.
--Margaret Spillett