Pelham Raising

Students, Faculty, and the surrounding community were invited to witness the official building rising of Pelham Hall this past Friday. The event began the official start to reconstruction of the Mt. Vernon residence hall, which is set to house 287 students in addition to three apartments for staff, a black-box theater, a dining hall, and classrooms. The building is expected to be open for the Fall 2010 semester.

At the event, Forbidden Planet Productions performed a piece for their upcoming play, followed by words from GW Trustee, formerly a Mount Vernon College Trustee and alumna, who was a former resident of Pelham Hall during its original release.The alumna fondly recollected memories of holding parties on the balconies, disrupting the peace of the surrounding area, and hiding alcohol on those balconies. She went on to mention that the new design of Pelham Hall will be less disruptive for the neighborhood. Pelham Hall is slated to earn a Silver Medal for environmental-friendliness once completed.

At the conclusion of the event, President Knapp, as well as members of the Board of Trustees and Campaign GW, laid down cement, officially marking the start of construction for what is to be considered the highlight of the Mount Vernon Campus in upcoming years.

- Zahin Hasan