Colby College | Campus Improvements

Colby is in the midst of a growth spurt. New buildings are under construction, others are on the drawing boards, and key centers of student life are undergoing substantial renovations. No growth in enrollment is planned—it’s all about providing outstanding facilities for Colby’s world-class programs.

Current Projects

New Campus Bookstore

In January 2007 the trustees approved a second-phase expansion of Cotter Union, Colby's student center. A 9,000-square-foot addition will accommodate the Colby Bookstore, which will move from the Roberts Building.

Artifical Turf Football Field

Construction of a new artificial turf football field was approved by trustees in April, and the facility will be open for home games in fall 2008. The $6-million project includes the synthetic playing surface, reconstruction of the Alfond Track, lighting for the field and track, and landscaping that features four- to five-foot earth berms behind both end zones and plantings, particularly at the northwest end, that will help give the field the feel of a stadium.

Mayflower Hill Drive Renovation
Repairs and improvements to the main road through Colby's campus have been a high priority for the College for several years. Under the terms of a new agreement among Colby, Waterville, and the state Department of Transportation, Colby will own the road and a major reconstruction project should begin in 2009.

Roberts Row Renovations

Artist's rendition of proposed renovation to Roberts Row dorm

Renovation and expansion of residence halls on Roberts Row begins in spring 2008, starting with Pierce and Perkins-Wilson (formerly the Zeta Psi and Phi Delt fraternity houses) as phase one of a multi-year project.

Designing a Science Building
A new science building will soon take its place on Colby Green, as the College looks to provide more and better space for computer science, mathematics, and psychology-all growing majors.

Recently Completed Projects

Pulver Pavilion/Cotter Union

Diamond Building

Roberts Dining Hall

Project Updates

June 13 | Artifical Turf Football Field
Aerial View of Turf Field Construction

Aerial photograph of the field construction taken on June 13, 2008

June 12 | New Campus Bookstore
New Bookstore Opens

Colby's new bookstore in Cotter Union opened June 13, 2008. The two-story, 9,000-square-foot addition was the final phase of a two-year project that renovated and reconfigured the union, added Pulver Pavilion, and moved the bookstore from Roberts to new space in Cotter.

January 31 | Diamond Building
Diamond LEED Certified

The U.S. Green Building Council notified Colby that the Diamond Building received official LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, after earning points for more than 30 green building initiatives.

November 15 | Roberts Dining Hall
Roberts Row Renovations

Renovations on Roberts Row would begin with projects in Perkins-Wilson and Pierce (formerly Phi Delta Theta and Zeta Psi) if trustees approve plans in January 2008. This would be phase one in a program that will see all Roberts Row buildings, including the Roberts Building itself, renovated.

August 28 | Pulver Pavilion/Cotter Union
Pavilion Open

Pulver Pavilion opened in August 2007 for the arrival of the Class of 2011. Orientation events were held in the pavilion, and services like the student mailroom, the snack bar, and the coffee bar were open for business.