Finishing Touches
A Sneak Peek at the New Baker
Photo by WEBB CHAPPELL
On a steamy day last July, workers replacing books in the restored Stamps Reading Room of Baker Library experienced an unfamiliar sensation: air-conditioning. Climate control is just one improvement to come out of a comprehensive renovation and expansion that will increase the usable space in Baker by about 41,000 square feet. To complete the project, approximately 150 workers were on site each day (including many Saturdays) for two years.
Students arriving at HBS this month can enter Baker from the traditional entrance facing the Charles River or through a new lobby that faces Allston, site of Harvard University’s future expansion. The addition of a south-facing entrance is both practical and symbolic, offering an open view through an airy, light-filled space as well as a clear reminder of the School’s future role at the center of an expanding academic community.
Faculty and staff began to move into their new offices in Baker over the summer, even as workers continued to carry out the finishing touches that will prepare the building for its official dedication on September 19. Look for further coverage and photos of the changes at Baker in the Bulletin’s next issue.
