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updated 04.18.08
Barnard celebrates "Topping Out" of New Campus Center
At five o'clock yesterday, Barnard students, faculty, staff, trustees, alumnae, friends, and neighbors gathered together in front of Lehman Library to celebrate the "Topping Out" of Barnard's highly anticipated campus center. This tradition marks an important milestone on the Barnard campus — the completion of the steel framework of the award-winning Nexus.
Blue and white balloons fluttered in the breeze, attached to the final beam, painted white, which was signed last week by students, faculty, staff, the construction crew, alumnae, and donors at a beam-signing party. The signed beam, often accompanied by an evergreen tree—thought by Scandinavians to honor the Forest God and ward off evil spirits—is then affixed in place at the top of the structure. The origins of the christening ritual can be traced back to Europe, where the tradition is most common in Scandinavia, England, Germany and Poland.
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Yesterday's celebration was an important opportunity for all of the diverse groups connected to the project to gather together for the purposes of celebrating the pinnacle of the structure being reached successfully without mishap, acknowledging each other's contributions, and committing to continued teamwork to accomplish the completion of the project. The 110,000-square-foot building by architectural firm Weiss/Manfredi—which has already garnered multiple design awards—will house dining facilities, cafes, a black box theater, a green roof, event spaces, classrooms and meeting rooms that will be used for events and programming open to the public. It is scheduled to open in September 2009.
"I'm excited to be here," said Barnard sophomore Maisha Rashid. "I was worried it wouldn't be built by my senior year, but it's really happening. And I'm so happy this is all going to happen on time."
The Barnard Bacchante got the celebration started by singing an a cappella rendition of the Barnard song with a slight twist in which they sang about the Nexus. Afterwards, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and best-selling author Anna Quindlen '74, welcomed everyone to the "Topping Out" proceedings.
"The Nexus is not just a building, but a tribute to our enduring belief in the future of Barnard College," said Quindlen, who added that the Nexus would house the school's greatest treasures — "the students themselves".
Christina Chang, an outgoing senior and SGA Vice President for Student Activities, spoke on behalf of the students, thanking everyone involved in the project, most of all, their beloved President Judith Shapiro. "We [the students] are so excited to see the beginning of the completion of the Nexus building, which will be the heart of our campus," said Chang. "We know it will transform life on campus, and we can't thank President Shapiro enough for her efforts." Chang presented Shapiro with a student-designed t-shirt bearing the logo: "Athena is my home girl," which brought cheers and clapping from the audience.
Barnard's outgoing president has been involved in the Nexus since its inception. Shapiro was visibly moved by the proceedings as she took the podium and faced the crowd. "This t-shirt truly represents Barnard women. They are both classic and savvy," she said, laughing. "This is a wonderful day. This building has been a dream to so many people and we have so much to celebrate."
Shapiro thanked many people for their generosity, time, and effort, but one pair of donors were singled out—Diana Vagelos '55 and her husband Dr. P. Roy Vagelos. Shapiro announced that the couple has donated to Barnard fifteen million dollars, the largest gift in the history of the college, to help build the Nexus. "Our alumnae center [the Vagelos Alumnae Center] is named after this generous couple and now the Nexus will be too — our students will go through their entire life cycle knowing their names," said Shapiro.
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Away from the podium on Lehman Lawn the Vagelos name hung in lights on a board. Seconds after Shapiro closed her remarks, their name exploded in light amidst a shower of roman candles, firecrackers and bursts of explosive golden confetti in a dazzling pyrotechnics display. The Vageloses hope their gift will benefit the college and the community. "We want to help Barnard do what it does best: teach women who will influence the future. We hope this building helps Barnard do its job," said Vagelos. "Thank you all for this opportunity."
—Maya Dollarhide |
