The Campaign to Save Ball Hall

When I was a student here in the late 90s, the Ball Hall “pit” (three rows of chorale-style, wooden risers—a bit warped and painted green—situated below ground) was a feature I thought cute, but not something very often utilized from my vantage point. I recall maybe having spent one class period seated there on a nice day when our professor decided to take us out for a little fresh air. After I started working here, I realized that the pit was a popular place for taking photos… where else could you corral a large group and arrange them in such a way that you could see everyone’s face? I think a lot of wedding parties utilized the space for the same purposes (submissions I have received for the “Class Notes” section of Keuka magazine tell me so). But, beyond that, it was a hole in the ground—literally—that you had to walk around to get to your destination. I don’t mean to offend anyone who has positive sentiments about the pit. I really don’t know how it came to be or what it might have been like in its heyday (if it had one). If you’ve got stories to share about the pit, please do so. What I’m sharing here is a photo of the new lakeside Ball Hall entrance, complete with the President Joseph G. Burke Plaza. Previously, there was a set of stairs leading up to the door, and a staircase inside the door leading to the first floor lobby. Now, the door, on the same level as the pavement, leads to ground floor. While the Ball Hall pit might have been characterized as whimsical, the plaza is inarguably sophisticated.

-Tanya

Last Friday, LeChase Construction gave the occupants of Ball Hall—staff and students alike—t-shirts that say, “We survived the Ball Hall renovation of 2006-2007” on the back. Several of us staff wore the shirts for the first time today (Fridays are designated “Keuka apparel days”). But I saw some students donning theirs earlier in the week. I have to say, it’s pretty neat that years from now I can tell future generations of Keukonians that I was here during the Ball Hall renovation of ’06-’07. I’ll join other staff, faculty, and students who can say, “I was there when Eleanor Roosevelt visited the campus in 1938” or “when Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the baccalaureate address and received an honorary doctor of letters degree in 1963.” I’m sure there are more significant events that alumni have witnessed/lived through. Please share.

-Tanya

My husband came to visit me at work (and join me for lunch) one day last week. It was the first time he had been inside Ball Hall in a LONG time. After a call from him on his cell phone wondering how to get in (the front entrance still has plywood over the former glass doors and, last I noticed, there was a rather deep-looking trench where the concrete landing used to be), and deciding after some explanation that it would just be easier if I met him out in the parking lot, he made his way in. He thought our ground floor offices were nice (he’d never visited the basement in its former state, so the appreciation I have for the transformation just wasn’t there), but what most impressed him was the first floor, where my office used to be. What surprised me was the immense sense of pride I felt while showing him around… like I was showing off a brand new/remodeled home. “This is our new lobby,” I said, pointing out the design in the hardwood floor/carpet combination and making note of the matching molding. I also took him to the old alumni lounge, which can seat a whole mess of people now with all of its couches and chairs. There are still signs of the former beauty, though. The wainscot that lined the hall remains, painted a pleasant beige color (replacing a rather sick-looking gold). And, the old doors to the office suites were salvaged and re-painted. Overall, the look is much brighter and fresher.

-Tanya

The portico in front of Ball is all gone. The building looks really bizarre without the cement pillars (which executive vice president Carolanne Marquis just mentioned to me were only there for about 50 years) and the boarded-up doors.

However, I’m of the persuasion that the new entry will be far more swank:

(See a video of the new entryway here)

If you care to opine, click the comments link near the top of this entry.

– Pete

PS: New photos have been added to the Flickr gallery, including a few that are courtesy of Kevin Reilly, Ball Hall’s project manager.

No, the forklift operator wasn’t actually swinging the broken piece of pillar over the parking lot; it just looks that way.

Needless to say, the pillars have started coming down. They removed one earlier this afternoon, and the rest are scheduled to come down tomorrow, according to one of the contractors I was talking with outside.

Check in for some new photos every now and then.

– Pete

If there’s one thing on campus you can’t miss today, it’s the loud jackhammering and sawing coming from the front of Ball. The concrete pillars that used to guard the entry to the gem of the campus are soon to be retired, as we need to make room for a new, ‘airlock-style’ entryway.

But according to Jerry Hiller, the College’s vice president for administration, we’re not getting rid of the pillars completely. He mentioned earlier that we’ll be turning some of the pillars into small park-style benches.

In other news, today is the first official day of The Campaign to Save Ball Hall’s class competitions. Tanya, who is a Keuka alumna, will be talking more about the competition this week, and all alumni should be receiving something from their class leaders relatively soon. So stay tuned.

Also, the free bookmarks will be in the mail shortly

– Pete

On the way in this morning, I noticed that part of the concrete surrounding the current front doors is chipped apart. That must mean that contractors will be making noticeable progress on the entrances soon. Thanks to Pete’s latest post of the architectural renderings, you can see what the new entrances will look like. The drawings depict parking lot and lakeside entrances that are certainly more defined… and more inviting with lush greenery surrounding them. I especially look forward to using the front door again. Right now we’re using the side door closest to Harrington Hall, which means quite a few extra steps for me in the cold. But, by the same token, it means more exercise for me in the winter, which could mean noticeable changes for Tanya as well.

-Tanya

Here’s an architectural rendering of what the new back of Ball is going to look like in October.

You can also check out this video, which takes you on a virtual stroll through the new grounds.

– Pete

Remember that plastic hut that I was talking about in my last blog? Well, it’s not there anymore. After a day, maybe, of seeing exposed bricks, dry wall went up. It is taped and just waiting to be painted (at least, that was the case about an hour ago). Things certainly happen fast around here.

I hear the first floor of Ball is coming right along. Some of my office mates got to take a sneak peak and snap a couple of photos. It appears as though the dry wall is up in several places. But, reminders of the old Ball remain. Check out the photo of the wallpaper below. When we (the Office of Communications) inhabited the first floor, the wallpaper could be seen in the janitor’s closet (where we’d often borrow the sink seeing how there was no bathroom on the first floor back then). In addition to the dish pattern, there were pieces of wallpaper exhibiting a sailboat pattern in that closet. Which came first, the dishes or the sailboats? I don’t know. Do any of you?

-Tanya

Though work on the the ground floor is nearly complete, there are still some signs of construction; the most obvious being the open ceiling in the hall. Which begs the question, “When will hallway ceiling tiles be put in place?” I received the answer to that question from LaMont Schiers, director of facilities. “Ceiling tiles for the ground floor will not be installed until this summer when we can complete the rest of the new wiring for floors 2, 3, and 4,” said Schiers. That explains the large spools of wire…

I’ve also been wondering about the plastic hut near the women’s room from which drilling noises can often be heard. “There is some prep-work going on in the lobby in preparation for a new doorway on the main level,” said Schiers. “The plastic is in place to control the dust from the brick and mortar work going on there. This is one of three places between floors one and two that are having additional brick work done before new floor layouts can be completed.”

-Tanya