Tufts Kicks Off Summer Construction
As pandemic restrictions lift, Tufts is resuming work on campus improvements this summer, while staying on track to open a multidisciplinary center in January.
A solar carport, new artificial turf in Ellis Oval, and an expanded clinical skills and simulation center at the School of Medicine are among the projects being initiated this summer. At the same time, construction continues on Joyce Cummings Center, a prominent academic hub on the Medford-Somerville campus slated to open in early 2022.
Summer 2021 will be more intensive than last year, when COVID-19 brought capital improvements to a near-standstill that continued into spring 2021. As a result, “we didn’t have the lead time we normally have, to ramp up for summer,” said Gretchen Von Grossmann, director of capital programs. “But we’re glad to be able to get back to work and we’re already gearing up for a full-fledged summer next year, when we can tackle new projects plus most of those we had to put on hold.”
“Opening Joyce Cummings Center unlocks the potential of historic buildings on the Academic Quad, like Eaton,” she said. “We want to take this time to study how they can be modernized.”
Here’s a look at summer projects moving forward.
School of Medicine and Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine
Two other projects bring much anticipated improvements to the education of future doctors and veterinarians.
At the School of Medicine, Tufts will relocate the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center from 35 Kneeland Street to the 2nd floor of the M&V wing of the Boston Research and Public Health complex, a move that brings it adjacent to the Michael Jaharis Jr., M87P, H15, Anatomy Laboratory and teaching center, which opened in 2017. Upgrades to the simulation center will include 16 simulated exam rooms and four surgical spaces, plus debrief, preparation, and classroom space, offices, storage, and a lounge.
The project also includes full renovation of the 5th floor as office space and a renewal of restrooms on each floor of the M&V wing.
To support the School of Medicine’s new physical therapy program, a teaching space will be created on the Medford-Somerville campus. The interior work at 200 Boston Avenue will reconfigure space currently leased for the Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences, which will be moving into Joyce Cummings Center.
On the Grafton campus at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts will build a multi-purpose teaching and simulation lab on the lower level of the Large Animal Hospital this summer. By fall, students will have the opportunity to practice clinical skills on simulators, as well as train on ultrasound equipment.
Also under way is renovation of a chemical compounding room for oncology at the Foster Hospital for Small Animals.