This project restores the interior and exterior of Berkeley College to support Yale College. It is part of a maintenance plan to refurbish each Yale residential college or hall over the summer on a rotating basis. To keep these facilities safe, operational, and supportive of Yale’s residential community, full refurbishment happens every seven years, and a partial refresh occurs midway through that cycle.
Offline maintenance of this building includes comprehensive interior work featuring painting and full floor re-sanding and replacement of exhaust fans, partitions, and missing room signage.
It repairs selective building façades, roofs, windows, doors, drainage, moat walls, and repoints stone joints. Site maintenance spans repair to walkways, gates, south site ramps, gate closer replacements, and upgrades to hoop-style bike racks.
Additionally, this project addresses critical infrastructure, safety, and energy-efficiency throughout the building by upgrading the fire alarm system, improving emergency egress in student suites, adding attic insulation, and installing water bottle filling stations at each entry.
Location
Project size
146,350 gross square feet
Schedule
- Design: Fall 2023 to summer 2024
- Procurement: Fall 2024 to winter 2025
- Construction (phase one): Spring 2025 to summer 2025*
- Construction (phase two): Spring 2026 to summer 2026
- Occupancy: Fall 2026
*The construction phase pauses during academic year 2025–26.
Program Details
- Architect of record: Christopher Williams Architects
- Contractor: Dimeo Construction Company
For the community
- Temporary pedestrian impacts along Alexander Walk and Elm Street during construction.
- Altered pedestrian routes to maintain safety during construction and installation of sloped walkways for accessible sidewalk use on Elm Street.
- Altered traffic patterns on Elm Street, with reduced parking near Berkeley College.
- Increased traffic and congestion during work hours, with construction vehicles and workers entering and exiting the site on Elm Street.
- Anticipated disruptions in the construction zone include noise, dust, and vibration.
For the city
This project creates labor hours and trade opportunities for New Haven residents.
Sustainability
This program includes the installation of water bottle filling stations at building entryways for convenience and sustainability.
For more information about Yale’s built environment, visit the Office of Sustainability.
Top image: Berkeley College, Yale University, photo courtesy of Jack Devlin