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In an announcement to the Brown community, University President Christina Paxson indicated her commitment to “Building Brown” by always having one sidewalk on campus under construction.
“As we continue to grow our university into the future, it is important not to lose where we have come from,” said Paxson in her email. “That means continuing a long and storied tradition of inhibiting foot traffic.”
Colorful “Building Brown” signs and fences denoting areas of construction have become an important staple on Brown’s campus over the last few years. “I feel like closed-off sidewalks are at the heart of my Brown experience,” noted Aiden Schrimpf ’14. “I can’t imagine going to school on a campus where I could easily walk from Point A to Point B.”
“Shortcuts don’t get you into Brown,” commented Fred Miller, associate dean of the college. “Nor do they work here, as any route that might be quicker than walking all the way around the buildings on the Main Green is probably closed.”
Paxson also revealed that the University plans to make the sidewalk constructions an opportunity for alumni donors to have their names become a part of Brown history. “We’re prepared to give naming rights to donors supporting our project,” said Paxson. “And that means lending donor names to our construction sites. We can’t wait to break ground for the Melvin Fischer ’56 P’97 Sidewalk Reconstruction Site once we finish with the Elaina Halvern ’72 Greenhouse Demolition and Walk-Sidewalk Beautification Project Site.”
Though most of the construction in past years has been fairly easy to avoid—mostly affecting the TAPS department buildings—Paxson’s announcement also vowed to push the limits of sidewalk closures. “In the next few years, we hope to close sidewalks that will affect a larger number of students and the Providence community as a whole,” said Paxson. “Hopefully within the next five years we will have blocked off large chunks of Thayer and the Walk. We may even block off the entrances to the Main Green! Who knows where this project will take us.”
