Looking for a new place to study or relax outdoors?
After decades of neglect, the courtyard within Reilly Hall is renovated and open for student use. Fouad Dietz, the Le Moyne College campus architect, said construction workers spent the summer transforming the abandoned space into the “heart and soul” of Reilly Hall.
The courtyard, part of the $6.4 million Reilly renovation, opened on Sept. 20. Dietz expressed how his travels across the world inspired his vision for the courtyard. The design fuses an Italian nautical theme with what Dietz called “Japanese Zen deco,” as manifested by hydrangea trees and an “allusion” to reflecting pools through black river rocks.
Because the space is asymmetrical and not a perfect square, Dietz focused on making the space feel “balanced” in order to create a sense of symmetry. Among the major challenges Le Moyne faced was removing a massive sculpture that had occupied the space for years, and had to be removed by a giant crane that was set up on the exterior of the building.
The renovations were not driven primarily by aesthetic purposes, Dietz said, but by the necessity to waterproof the space. He said the old concrete would crumble if someone stepped on it before the new construction, which is why students were denied access for years.
Due to the need for waterproofing, Dietz’s original vision of true reflecting pools had to be reevaluated, and replaced with the river stones. For decking, Dietz said, workers installed the same kind of material that would be used for a dock, which creates the same feeling as walking on a marina.
Larger events will not be held on the courtyard, Dietz said, both for structural reasons and to avoid disturbing faculty members who have offices next door. Dietz said capacity is between 35 to 50 people at one time, but he doubts there would be a reason for that many.
Dietz said he first saw the type of furniture used in the courtyard at a hotel in Costa Rica. Right now, fourteen people can sit comfortably but Dietz said a bench will be added soon. This was the final step of completing Reilly renovations that had been discussed for years.
On the Friday the courtyard opened, three Le Moyne students quietly made history. Rai Irving, Destiny Smith and Thara Muhammad were the first students in decades to step into the space and, as Irving said, “to actually hang out there.”
Smith, who said she typically does not study outside, said: “The way it’s enclosed and still has some wind and natural light was just really calming to me.” As a new transfer student at Le Moyne, she made this point: “It’s nice,” she said, “that it’s about as new as me.”
(Written for The Dolphin by the CMM 274 newsriting class: Aidan Mingoia, Payton Hirsch, Lucy Webb, Richard Dann, Joakay Shidoma, Corinne Becker, Grace Crooks, Sophia Melone, Michael Leahy, Riley Brennen, Jordynn Firnstein, Emily Symans, Branwyn Lupton, Mairead Conway, Hannah Martz, Aliyah Brown and George Vasilev)
