The Phase III renovations of MVR Hall have concluded and complete a comprehensive upgrade to nearly 120,000 square feet of this Georgian Revival style building originally built between 1931 and 1933. Among many improvements, the renovations open the flow of the building and showcase the interconnectedness of the Human Ecology community.

The upgrades are considered a commitment to the philosophy originally set for the College by Martha Van Rensselaer and the innovative, multi-disciplinary institution it has evolved into over time. The improvements enhance connectivity, circulation, space layout, and functionality. By enhancing the quality, productivity and overall experience in MVR Hall, the College strengthens its mission to improve lives into the future.

MVR Hall renovations complete

(Updated images will be added regularly)

First Floor, Southwest Entrance

First Floor, southwest entrance

First Floor, Southwest Entrance

First Floor, southwest entrance

First floor, checkerboard square

First floor, checkerboard square

First Floor, hallway

First Floor, hallway

First floor, Hallway 2

First floor, hallway

West corridor stairwell and wall lap at the checkerboard square

left: West corridor stairwell, right: Wall lamp at the checkerboard square

First floor, west corridor staircase

First floor, west corridor staircase

First floor, Green room west wall

First floor, Green room west wall

MVR auditorium

First floor, MVR auditorium

MVR Auditorium chandeliers

MVR auditorium chandeliers

MVR auditorium wall graphics

First floor, MVR auditorium

MVR auditorium view from the second floor

MVR auditorium view from the second floor

First floor hallway 2

First floor, hallway

First floor, west elevator foyer

First floor, west elevator foyer

First floor, renovated room

First floor, renovated room

First floor hallway

First floor, hallway

Martha's_one

Martha's

Martha's

Martha's

ground_floor_connection

Ground floor connection

Groud floor north corridor

Groud floor, north corridor

Ground Floor Walkway

Ground floor, walkway

Second floor walkway

Second floor, walkway

Second floor common team space

Second floor, common team space

Second floor CIPA

Second floor, Cornell Institute For Public Affairs (CIPA)

Cornell Institute For Public Affairs (CIPA) space

Second floor, Cornell Institute For Public Affairs (CIPA)

Third floor hallway

Third floor, walkway

Third floor unit entrance

Third floor, unit entrance

Third floor stairway

Third floor, stairway

Third floor hallway

Third floor, hallway

Third floor hallway

Third floor, hallway

third floor connection

Third floor, stairway to mezzanine floor (3M)

Mezzanine floor (3M) space

Mezzanine floor (3M)

Mezzanine floor (3M) common space

Mezzanine floor (3M), common space

Mezzanine floor (3M), walkway

Mezzanine floor (3M), walkway

Move-in has begun, while paying critical attention to the Cornell campus reactivation plan and safety. In the near future, the College will provide a virtual tour of the new spaces as part of its ongoing celebration of this incredible achievement. Stay tuned for continued updates throughout the fall.

Fall 2020 class in MVR Auditorium 1101

Fall 2020 class in MVR Auditorium 1101

Green Room

Green room, photo by Simon Wheeler

Green Room

Green room, photo by Simon Wheeler

Safe space signage

Safe space signage

Safe space signage

Safe space signage

Commons Cubes for studying and eating, unmasked; and Safe spaces to study, chill and charge.

Commons Cubes for studying and eating, unmasked; and Safe spaces to study, chill and charge.

Renovation promotes sustainability

This MVR Hall renovation project is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold status or better, which is what has been achieved in all previous phases of MVR renovations.

In this current phase of renovation, the College is reclaiming, upcycling and recycling a significant amount of legacy materials and pieces from the original MVR, and new innovations are cutting down on construction waste remarkably. 

Total tonnage removed via demolition and abatement: 1,293.02 

  • 1,100 tons recycled/diverted
  • 95 tons of landfill

Total tonnage of recycle/reuse during surge of faculty/staff: 13.05 

  • eWaste – electronic recycling = 5,900 pounds (2.95 tons)
  • Shredding – paper recycling = 13,300 pounds (6.65 tons)
  • Books – recycled/reused = 6,900 pounds (3.45 tons)

 

First-of-its-kind Warehouse ReUse Event

What do you do with a warehouse full of desks, chairs, filing cabinets and other office furniture that you no longer need? If you are College of Human Ecology Facilities and Operations Director Kristine Mahoney, you hold a Warehouse ReUse event to give it away to community members who can put it to use. Warehouse ReUse event story!

Classic Furniture Reclamation Project

As part of the renovation and surge processes over the last few years, the College has reviewed its entire inventory of furniture. Over 60% of the furniture purchased in previous renovation phases has been reused existing inventory. Recently, over 5,000 sq. ft. of furniture has been repurposed and reused.

In addition to the reuse and repurposing of much of the inventory, the College is gathering a great number of excellent examples of classic design pieces from earlier years of the College (chairs, desks, tables by Eames, Emeco, Bertoia, Knoll, Vecta, Chadwick.) A number of offices in the College had been originally furnished with pieces that have now become classics over the subsequent decades.

The refurbished pieces will be placed in use throughout the buildings in conference rooms and other areas that will allow for both broader visibility and use by our community and easier access by our design courses that use them for instructional reference. Any offices that have had classic pieces removed have had access to our existing inventory to choose replacements. Once we complete this process, we will document our inventory and make the information available on our website for additional reference.

This process is great way for the College to reuse furniture, conserve resources and celebrate our history. If you have any questions or would like a piece of furniture reviewed for inclusion, please contact facilities (chefacilities@cornell.edu).