Maria Mitchell Observatory undergoes renovation

Brian Farkas News Editor

Education students at Vassar will have a new home following a major renovation to the Maria Mitchell Observatory, which began the week of Oct. 15. According to Vice President for Finance and Administration Elizabeth Eismeier, this project has a budget of $3.9 million. Kirchhoff Construction–the same firm that led renovations of Walker Field House and Kenyon Hall—was awarded the contract.

The renovated building, which will house the education department, will include a new reception area, 11 offices, and classroom spaces. A multipurpose seminar room will constructed underneath the dome. These renovations will make the old observatory handicap- accessible. Colege Historian and Professor Emeritus of English Elizabeth Daniels will also have a new office in the building.

Chair of the Department of Education and Associate Professor Christopher Bjork said that this move will add tremendous resources to the education program.

“The most obvious improvement will be the increase in space available to the education department,” said Bjork. “Several members of our department are currently sharing offices. That will no longer be necessary after we move to the old observatory.” The Blodgett Hall facilities currently used by the department will provide additional space for faculty in other social science disciplines.

Bjork is very happy with the proposed space. “The architect’s plans for the old observatory are really impressive,” he said. “[Kirchoff] has taken a special interest in the project and has come up with some creative ways to make the space more accessible and inviting.”

Bjork believes that the building’s location near the center of campus is another advantage. “We hope that more students will drop by the observatory to learn about education department programs and events, given that the old observatory is a couple of minutes from Main,” he said.

The old observatory is one of two National Historic Landmarks on Vassar’s campus. Main Building, designed by acclaimed architect James Renwick Jr., is the other. As such, the College is attempting to preserve its historic appearance. “This [construction] does have to be consistent with the historic character of the building,” said Eismeier. “We are using material that will have a very similar appearance to the original tin roof of the observatory, but it will be a roof that provides insulating value so that the space under the dome can function as a classroom.”

Constructed in 1864, the Maria Mitchell Observatory is the oldest building on campus. It provided an office and home for Mitchell, who was an astronomy professor at Vassar. Mitchell was the first female member of both the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She was also the first professional female astronomer in the United States. For the past decade or so, the building has been used primarily for storage and auxiliary office space.

Bjork believes that the move from Blodgett is symbolically significant as well. “Education departments are often marginalized on college campuses,” he said. “Vassar’s decision to move our department and to invest so much in its renovation attests to the College’s commitment to educational studies and the preparation of teachers.”

This commitment comes in response to the department’s considerable growth in the last decade. According to Dean of Studies and Associate Professor of Education Chris Roellke, four additional tenure track faculty positions have been added since 1998. “Student interest in the field of education has never been stronger,” he said in an e-mailed statement. “Annually, over 400 students enroll in education course work and between 20 and 30 students earn New York State teacher certification in childhood education and adolescent education.”

In a survey administered to the Class of 2005 six months after their graduation, education was the most popular employment setting, comprising over 23 percent of graduates.