This afternoon Simmons is taking an important step forward as we seek to fortify our campus for the next century of scholars.
Later today we are filing with the City of Boston our Institutional Master Plan Notification Form/Project Notification Form (IMPNF/PNF), which presents a 10-year plan for our Residence and Academic campuses. This plan is the result of many years of studies and analysis — we are convinced it is the right move for Simmons.
To understand what we are proposing and why, it is important to consider how we got here. In early 2013 Simmons initiated an institutional and master planning process to study how our aging physical plant can meet the needs of our academic future as Simmons entered its second century. Through this Strategy 2022 initiative, which included input from academic deans, faculty, staff, and students and is guided by the President and Board of Trustees, Simmons developed a set of priorities and recommendations for future campus development and began exploring options. The Strategy 2022 process crystalized two vital needs of the university moving forward:
- Addressing our aging science facilities at a time when Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) education has taken on a regional and national importance; and
- Uniting residential accommodations and athletics facilities, currently on the Residence Campus, with existing academic and administrative facilities on the Academic Campus as a “One Simmons” concept.
The IMPNF/PNF we are filing today details our plan to renovate the existing Lefavour Hall to accommodate our science program, and it lays out the One Simmons vision for a single, unified campus. Please note, construction of Lefavour is more than a year away, and the construction of a residence facility to contain athletics on the Academic Campus has not yet been confirmed. Nevertheless, thanks to careful, prudent fiscal management, we are approaching these important projects from a position of financial strength.
While much has yet to be determined, today’s filing announces our intentions for One Simmons to the world. We understand how important this bold step is to you, and we are committed to a transparent process as we move forward. Many of you have already attended a community meeting about our One Simmons plan, and we will continue to update you as the process moves forward.
I encourage you to learn more about our campus planning and see the latest rendering of the LLC, review frequently asked questions, and read the IMPNF/PNF document in its entirety. We will be updating that page throughout the project and will also send periodic updates via email. Please email us with any questions or comments you have.
It is an exciting time to be at Simmons, and we welcome this opportunity to modernize our facilities and meet the needs of future Simmons students for our next 120 years.
Sincerely,
President Helen Drinan