Campus Construction Highlights

Our campus is in the midst of a transformative period. Our community is laying the groundwork for spaces and infrastructure that will allow us to live into our mission to educate the whole person and steward our resources toward a more sustainable future. 

As you walk the grounds, you’ll see work underway that supports a variety of projects, from the newly opened Dining and Community Commons to the College’s bold vision for realizing its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035, To Zero By Thirty-Five. These exciting and necessary projects will have a wide-reaching and long-standing impact on our community. Explore the resources below to learn more about some of the most critical and innovative work happening at Swarthmore.

Interactive Campus Construction Map

Dining and Community Commons

The Dining and Community Commons (DCC) project reimagines the social and dining experiences that are central to Swarthmore’s ability to fulfill its mission of educating the whole person. The new Dining Center opened in October 2022, and Sharples Commons, our new hub for student life with flexible meeting and gathering spaces, opened in February 2024. 

To Zero By Thirty-Five

To Zero By Thirty-Five is Swarthmore’s bold vision for realizing its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035 through moving the College away from fossil fuel combustion and toward greater use of renewable energy. Work is underway on Mertz Field for the geoexchange well field and on the geoexhange plant in the basement of the new Dining Center.

Martin Hall Renovations and Repurposing

The relocation of the biology department to Singer Hall created an opportunity to reimagine how Martin Hall could better serve students and faculty. Construction is expected to be complete in time for the Fall 2025 semester. The building will house the Computer Science and Film and Media Studies departments as well as the Media Center. Martin will be transformed into an interdisciplinary, technological center for the entire campus community and include a vibrant social space, a production studio, a screening room, editing suites, computer science labs, and an outdoor Arts Plaza connecting LPAC and Lang Music Buildings.

Rendering of Martin Hall plaza renovation

  • Updating Parrish Hall's Utility Infrastructure

    At the heart of campus, Parrish will play a vital role in connecting north campus to the new geoexchange system as part of To Zero By Thirty-Five. Construction will extend the geoexchange supply and return piping from the steam tunnel at the west end of Parrish to the basement of Kohlberg Hall—from there, distribution piping will extend to buildings on the north campus.  Along with this new piping, improvements to Parrish will involve upgrading underground utilities around the building, many of which are over 100 years old, as well as the recent addition of air conditioning to student residential areas.

    Parrish Hall

  • Connecting Campus to the Geoexchange

    As part of To Zero By Thirty-Five, buildings across campus will be tied into the geoexchange system and be made more energy-efficient, reducing the load on the geoexchange. From late spring through fall 2024, work will be underway on the underground utility tunnel installing new geoexchange supply and return piping. This work will take place on both the south end of the tunnel, near the heat plant, and the north end, by Parrish Hall and Clothier Hall.

    Singer hall

Campus Renewal Efforts

Efforts continue to renew and modernize buildings and spaces across campus. In 2024, Worth Health Center waiting area was expanded to be more comfortable for those waiting for a health or CAPS appointment. Parrish East and McCabe elevators were modernized with new equipment and finishes to improve reliability. Improvements were made to large classroom spaces, including installing new seating and flooring in Science Center 101 Chang Hou Hall. In residential spaces, lounges and facilities were enhanced, with air conditioning installed in Kyle House and Woolman House, new windows and bedroom doors installed on the third and fourth floors of Parrish Hall, a new roof installed at Roberts Hall, a card access system installed at Wharton Hall, and new room lighting and window shades installed in Alice Paul. The Mephistos Lounge kitchen in Willets Hall was also renovated and expanded.

Picture of Willets Hall