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Construction

by Betsy Chapman

I am fortunate to work with a lot of creative people who take incredible photos and videos of the things that happen on campus. This is a great example of that creativity – a quick video look at the semester that just finished.

Photos and videos can chronicle the life of a university, but sometimes our students (and by extension, families) only see the end product. Construction projects are a great example: a lot of them take place over the summer to minimize disruption to the campus community. Right now there is a project taking place to re-make the road up through Davis Field, which is the way it was when I was a student. This project is also creating a centralized shuttle stop. I was on campus this weekend and could see the preliminary work on Davis Field, though none of that was really photo-worthy.

Today I thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures of construction projects past. In the midst of it, they look a mess. The finished products speak for themselves. Click on any pic to enlarge.

Back in 2019, there was a project to restore the Quad and fix some drainage and other issues. Seeing the Quad with none of its normal, lush grass was really jarring. As you can see in the second photo, that is a LOT of sod. Renovation of Hearn Plaza continues on Monday, June 24, 2019. Crews lay sod on Hearn Plaza as they near the completion of the renovations on Tuesday, June 25, 2019. An aerial view of the Wake Forest campus late in the afternoon of a beautiful fall day, on Thursday, November 5, 2020.

When we renovated Reynolds Gym, one of the first items was to remove all the bricks in the archways and make them glass windows. Construction continues on phase two of the Reynolds Gym renovation on the campus of Wake Forest University on Tuesday, July 12, 2016. An exterior view of historic Reynolds Gym and the Sutton Center, on the campus of Wake Forest University, Thursday, September 26, 2019.

We also did a complete redo of the very old pool, which added a spa with a slick WF logo in it. Workers blow concrete into the new pool in Reynolds Gym on Wednesday, November 1, 2017. Work continues on the renovation of Reynolda Gym as workers install tile in the shape of the Wake Forest Seal on the bottom of the spa in the pool area, on Sunday, February 11, 2018. A view of the new pool and aquatics area in the renovated Reynolds Gym on the campus of Wake Forest University, Thursday, March 22, 2018.

Angelou Hall is our newest residence hall. Here is an ‘under construction’ view and the finished product. Construction of the new first year residence hall on the Wake Forest campus continues on Thursday, June 9, 2016. Angelou Residence Hall, on the campus of Wake Forest University, Tuesday, September 24, 2019.

Maybe the most remarkable set of photos is the Living Room of Farrell Hall. There is a large glass conference room overlooking the Living Room, and you can really see how the sausage was made in these pictures. Construction continues on Farrell Hall, future home of the Wake Forest Schools of Business, on Monday, November 5, 2012. Construction continues on Farrell Hall, new home of the Wake Forest University School of Business, on Thursday, May 23, 2013. A panoramic view of the living room in Farrell Hall, home of the Wake Forest School of Business, on Monday, January 23, 2017.

Last up today but certainly not least, wishing a Happy Pride Month to all who are celebrating.

— by Betsy Chapman, Ph.D. (’92, MA ’94)

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