Construction of new residential colleges moving forward, thanks to fundraising efforts

Following the Yale College reunions, Yale has reached its fundraising goal for construction of two new residential colleges, President Peter Salovey has announced.

Following the Yale College reunions, Yale has reached its fundraising goal for construction of two new residential colleges, President Peter Salovey has announced.

“We have now raised sufficient funds to move forward with the process of building the two new residential colleges, and we now can ’bid out’ the construction project,” Salovey said of the $500 million fundraising effort in his regular Notes from Woodbridge Hall message on June 2. ”If we receive satisfactory proposals, we can begin construction this winter. I must thank all of the alumni and parents who have helped make this project possible.” 

In April 2013, Yale received a $250 million gift for the new colleges from Charles B. Johnson, who graduated from Yale College in 1954. It was the largest gift ever made to Yale by an alumnus.

“I am so grateful to my predecessor, Rick Levin, who initiated our plans to expand Yale College, and who secured Charlie Johnson’s inspiring leadership gift,” said Salovey.

Provost Benjamin Polak announced last October that Yale’s plan was to break ground on the new colleges in February 2015 and complete them by August 2017. 

“The two new residential colleges will allow us to admit about 200 more undergraduates each year and extend a Yale College education to a greater number of deserving students,” Polak said at the time.

Robert A.M. Stern Architects, founded and led by School of Architecture Dean Robert Stern, designed the new colleges, which will be built in a triangle north of the Grove Street Cemetery bounded by Prospect, Canal, and Sachem streets, creating a new sense of the geography of the campus by enlarging the footprint of Yale College. 

A committee chaired by Polak and Yale College Dean Mary Miller recently reported to Salovey on how best to accommodate an undergraduate student body increased from 5,400 to 6,200.

The committee focused on teaching, learning, and student services.

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