Recent Bedford Renovations to Revitalize Longwood Art Program

By Russell Himes
Rotunda ReporterIf one were to enter Longwood University's Bedford Hall today, one would find themselves in a dank, dirty lobby. To their right might be a narrow, dimly lit staircase, leading up to a hallway lined with offices and workshops. The shops would clearly show the wear of being used by hundreds of students. Offices are cramped and uncomfortable. The whole building seems to be a varying level of brown. The only classroom one would find is an equally dark auditorium in which art history is taught and university guests come to lecture.

However, whenever one entered Bedford, one would find the halls crowded with both students and professors working on various projects. Paintings, drawings, photographs and other objects of unspecified purpose may be lying in the hallways. Students might be hard at work cutting supplies and crafting jewelry or sculptures. This is the Longwood University art program, and the Capital Planning and Construction Department intends to make it better.

Using state funding, the Longwood Capital Planning and Construction Department is more than tripling the 40-year-old building in size, as well as adding additional classrooms and studio space and giving the building's appearance a drastic makeover. According to the press release put out at the start of construction in November 2009, the new building will be given a face-lift involving a new fountain resembling the CHI waterfall outside of the dining hall, a sculpture garden, and a new sheer glass wall on the east side of the building, which will bring more light into the building while simultaneously allowing students to display their work for the campus to see.

The inside of the building will also be receiving a facelift. Project Inspection Manager Bob Chambers, who is overseeing the construction, said the renovation is not only going to add more square footage to the building, but also "enhance the space that they have now, which will give [the art department] a whole lot more room as far as classrooms. He said the renovation is going to take place in two distinct phases. The first phase, which is occurring now, will include construction of the new sections of Bedford Hall. This addition will include new offices for art department staff, as well as a new auditorium and classrooms. According to Chambers, the additions will be completed in spring 2012, and professors and students can move into the new sections of the building after next year's graduation. The second phase includes the renovation of the old Bedford, where current studio space will be redesigned.

Art Department Chair Erin Devine showed excitement on behalf of herself and her staff regarding the renovations and the new facilities and equipment that would come with it. "We're really in need of new equipment," said Devine, explaining that she hoped having top-of-the-line facilities would give the program increased visibility across the state. "We have over 170 art students right now and we have been steadily increasing. I would anticipate that in the first three to five years after the building is completed that enrollment will increase drastically," said Devine. She mentioned the increased work space, new on-campus art gallery, and new offices and classrooms, but said that she's most looking forward to just having an inviting work space. "If there was one thing that I could have right this moment, it would just be a nice clean building," said Devine. "There will be more of an outlet for students to showcase their work. It'll be a nice building that people will want to come into. And that's what an art department is about is that faculty, administration, staff, students, they should all be coming into an art building and hanging out for a while, looking to see what's hanging on display," said Devine.

Devine also said she believed the renovation would improve students' work. "What it will mean is that once you have new facilities and new equipment and additional space for students to do their work, it ups their level of performance," said Devine.

However, the construction has not been without inconveniences. Anyone crossing the south end of campus has seen what junior art major Andrea Damiano refers to as the "Berlin Wall," a wooden barrier blocking off most of the sidewalk space in front of Bedford. Damiano said, "The wall is actually a huge hassle because it blocks off the entire front of Bedford, so the only way to approach it is from the far door on the exterior side." She has also had her photography class moved to Stevens Hall, across campus, in order to move away from construction noise and avoid accidents as the building crews work in that area. Though Devine admits the construction is sometimes disruptive, she explained she felt the campus's efforts to make the transition as smooth as possible were working. "Everyone on our campus has been so great and helpful that it really hasn't been a huge inconvenience," said Devine.

Though Chambers said the project is likely "a little bit ahead of schedule," he noted the blockage on Brock Commons and in the parking lot behind Bedford is likely to persist throughout the three-year project. Chambers said, "What you see now will be pretty much there at least until we finish phase one." Chambers also added that some of the blockage is due to a separate project, the placement of an elevator in Wygal Hall, which is to be completed in 2010. Chambers explained that after the Wygal elevator completion, much of the sidewalk space to Bedford and the new Communications Studies and Theatre Center is going to be usable again.