C to motor vehicles beginning Wednesday, June 18, as Dartmouth prepares to install an underground distribution piping vault as part of its conversion from steam to a more efficient for campus heating and cooling.
The street will continue to be accessible to pedestrians via some marked detours. Crosby Street runs past Buddy Teevens Stadium at Memorial Field and connects Lebanon and East Wheelock streets.
The complex project, expected to take 12 to 18 months, is the next phase of the of the Dartmouth Climate Collaborative—a $500 million effort with the goal of reducing campus emissions by 60% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
“We know this work will impact traffic patterns, but it is critical to the success of our energy transition and the future health of our community, and we are so appreciative of the community partners working with us to develop plans to help mitigate the impacts,” says , senior vice president for operations.
The transition to hot water will allow Dartmouth to switch to its planned geo-exchange heating and cooling system, which uses a closed loop network of fluid-filled pipes in boreholes to harness the Earth’s ambient temperature—an effective strategy in climates like northern New England with seasonal temperature fluctuations.
Over the past year, distribution piping to carry water has been installed in several locations across campus. The piping vault under Crosby Street will serve as a key connection point for these pipes.
Crosby Street was selected as the location for the vault in part to preserve the stately elm tree on the corner of Crosby and East Wheelock streets, near the Lewinstein Athletic Center and tennis courts, Keniston says. Siting of the work will avoid the tree’s drip line—that is, the outer circumference of its canopy from which rainwater drips onto its root system.
“There are trade-offs as we move to an efficient, resilient energy system. The short-term inconvenience of closing the street supports long-term environmental stewardship,” says Director of Sustainability Rosi Kerr ’97.
Work is continuing on other components of the energy transition:
- Boss Tennis Center will be closed through August to convert the mechanical systems from steam to hot water.
- Leverone Field House will be closed through September to complete roof replacement and convert the mechanical systems from steam to hot water.
- East Wheelock Street piping installations will continue through the summer at several locations.
- College Street near the Hopkins Center will be re-curbed and restored, beginning this summer.
Dartmouth’s housing commitment
Several projects related to housing also continue as part of commitment to add 1,000 beds for faculty, staff, and students in the next decade, which she first outlined in her 2023 inaugural address.
Three major housing projects are currently underway:
: The renewal of Fayerweather’s three 120-year-old neo-Georgian buildings are part of the housing renewal plan that is updating Dartmouth’s existing housing stock. The hall is being thoroughly reenvisioned for modern needs while preserving its historic character. As of June, excavation for the hot water conversion loop is mostly complete, and Fayerweather Hill Road has reopened to traffic, with access to Richardson Hall and Observatory Road, though Observatory Road will be closed for the duration of construction in order to install new sewage lines. Exterior masonry work on North Fayerweather is nearly complete, and work is beginning on Mid Fayerweather, along with framing. The roof connecting North and Mid Fayerweather is in place and other roofing work is continuing.
: This new undergraduate residence will provide apartment-style housing for juniors and seniors on West Wheelock Street. The building’s steel superstructure is in place and site work continues to support the building and utilities.
West Lebanon Housing Development: Dartmouth is financing this $15.2 million, 21-house residential development on Oak Ridge Road in West Lebanon, N.H., approximately a mile south of campus, to provide convenient housing for Dartmouth employees. As siting and foundation work continue, the first two homes have been delivered by Huntington Homes, a modular home manufacturer based in East Montpelier, Vt., and are expected to be ready for tenants in the fall.
Other projects
Several renewal projects are currently underway in Dartmouth’s athletics district to support both the decarbonization initiative and to help Dartmouth improve its compliance with Title IX, including at , , , and .
And major construction on the expanded and reimagined wraps up this month. The Hop will remain closed to the public as technical teams install and test specialized equipment, digital lighting systems, and acoustics in preparation for faculty and students to move into the space in the fall.
