Under the Purple Hard Hat

Yesterday was the topping off ceremony. The final piece of steel was put in place and flags were raised over the new dorm. I am going to find out some facts from the guys but right now i do know it is somewhere in the realm of 3000 square feet of cement has been poured. I am going to see how much steel has been erected. Now the interior masonry and structural walls need to be finished and soon the exterior masonry will be going up. It will be nice to see the dorm have some red brick on it. Photos are up of the flag ceremony and from this past week.

Everything is coming along rather nicely at the new dorm. The roof supports are going up and floors are being poured on the upper levels. Most of the masonry for the south end of the dorm is up. If you look through the photos you can clearly make out what is the layout for a future dorm room.



There is also one of the coolest looking cranes on the site now that is being used to put the roof supports in place. The counter weights are at the base crane and exposed to for me to see. My favorite part about it is the weight of each is chiseled out of the stone.

Student blogs are now up! WAHOO!!! You can see them here. This page is a landing page to student blogs as well as this one and addmissions blog. We are hoping to add more as the next school year comes around maybe a few from alumni or I am hoping to get the college historian writing and posting images of the history of campus for all to see as well.

On the new dorm fron it is impossible to see from the outside but they have poured the entire first floor as well as the south end of the second, third and fourth. They also have a lot of the masonry for the exterior wals as well as for the entrances begun. Fire proofing has gone up as well as the start of the peaked roof on the south end of the building.

I know I am not alone when I say I can't wait for the frigid cold and wind to stop. Right now all of the scafolding around the outside of the building (except for in a few places) is covered in plastic to keep the guys warm as well as safe from some pretty heavy wind gusts.

It is fun to talk to people on campus and get their opinion of the construction going on. Many offer their sympathies to the workers in this cold weather. Others are excited and curious. Everyone says that it is just plain cool, especially seeing the workers walking the beams up on the fourth floor. I can say from first hand experience that viewing the campus from that high of a point is rather exhilarating. To see the campus from a view point that no other person has is absolutely amazing. There is something very freeing about being that high up and having no walls or barriers around you and just feeling the wind blowing by.

Getting back the ones who talk about the freezing cold. Now don't miss understand it is cold but if you go inside of the building there are heaters pumping out enough heat that you can work in just a short sleeve shirt and be very comfortable. Check out the photos and see what I mean. I will have a photo update coming soon for all to see as well.

Also a few weeks ago I mentioned that student blogs were coming. I am here to confirm we recently had a meeting with students and administrators and have them set up. So keep an eye on the Elmira College website for an update.

I hope everyone's holiday was great.

Based on the amount of work that has been completed on the new dorm you would think that the guys over there haven't taken a break in quite a while. They are creeping towards the heavens with their iron and stone. Ceilings are up or you could say floors are being laid. I am not sure which is which when referring to the second and third floors.

Lime stone is being brought in daily in preparation for future exterior work. It is bitterly cold out as of late and any photos i take will be with frigid little hands so take heart your intrepid reporter will attempt to keep you up to date as we move ever forward in dorm construction on Elmira College campus.

Before I begin I would like to wish everyone a grand and happy holiday. The holidays are upon us and everyone is a touch happier and a bit more joyous.


The construction is moving a a furious pace. They brought in 2 trusses that will be the support for both the 2nd and 3rd floor over the main lounge. I want you to check out the photos because it is the only way that i can show how snowy it was out there. It is a bit precarious having two major pieces of the dorm moving in as one of the big snow storms of the year comes blowing in on the same day. I will say that the guys are amazing though. Never complained truly professional.


Today is the coldest yet but at least the snow is not coming down. I know you may be curious, Why work in this weather? Answer: they are hoping to get the roof up or ceiling to the first floor (what ever you would like to call it) up so that way they can pour cement for the first floor and then heat inside and not have to work in the harsh winter conditions.


Also I have had several request for blogs beyond the new dorm and i have good news to report on that front. at the beginning of the new year we will be adding new student blogs as well as alumni blogs to the bunch. I am hoping to find some other administrators who would like to blog and maybe even have a blog for people with interesting stories and items from their days at EC so i will keep you posted.

Turkey day has passed and now finals are upon us. As the iron rises towards the skies the snow begins to fall and with it so does the temperature. After taking some time away from the site it was nice to go back and see what has transpired. All of the first floor exterior wall have gone up and so has the iron for the remaining walls. Talked to the guys today and the plan is to continue moving up the south entrance. Soon we see an impressive outer skeleton of the new dorms upper floor. There are many people involved with building and overseeing and designing and I have to say this has to be one of the most impressive buildings i have ever seen.