Overview of the Dining and Community Commons
The Dining and Community Commons project at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania is a multi-phased addition and renovation centered around the existing Sharples Hall dining facility. Located within the campus and Scott Arboretum, the project incorporates renovation and new construction activities throughout the site. Meanwhile, Warfel’s general construction services managed work across multiple phases. The team also maintained continuity between the existing dining facility and the new mass timber addition integrated within the campus environment.
Mass Timber Addition and Campus Integration
The Dining and Community Commons project incorporates a 42,000 square foot mass timber addition designed around the existing Sharples Hall facility. The addition expands the dining and gathering environment while connecting new construction with surrounding campus areas. At the same time, the structure integrates with the adjacent Scott Arboretum. The work also maintained continuity between the new addition and the existing facility. In turn, this process connected phased construction activities throughout the site. The process also integrated new and existing portions of the project.
Educational Environment and Shared Spaces
The Dining and Community Commons was thoughtfully conceived to support Swarthmore College’s mission and broader educational environment. The project reflects values centered around stewardship, innovation, inclusion, equity, and diversity. In addition, the updated facility incorporates gathering and dining areas throughout the campus environment. The dining addition also integrates with the surrounding Scott Arboretum and existing Sharples Hall structure. Together, these spaces contribute to the broader student experience throughout the campus setting.
Construction Phasing for Dining and Community Commons
Warfel’s general construction services managed phased renovation and addition activities throughout the project duration. From the outset, the team sequenced construction activities around the existing Sharples Hall facility. As a result, this process maintained alignment between renovation and new construction work throughout the site. The phased work also integrated the mass timber addition alongside the existing dining facility during construction. Together, the completed renovation and addition establish an updated dining and gathering environment within Swarthmore College’s campus and surrounding Scott Arboretum.
