Colgate University’s campus looks a little different this fall. Over the summer, several major construction projects tied to the Third-Century Plan came to fruition. From the demolition of 70 Broad St.’s “Loj” to the reopening of Delta Upsilon’s (DU) renovated chapter house and the inauguration of Peter’s Glen, these updates mark another step in the University’s advancement.
Each of these projects reflects a different aspect of the Third-Century Plan: the removal of aging spaces for safer facilities, the revitalization of historic Broad Street housing and the creation of new natural corridors that tie the campus together.
Just down the hill from the academic quad, DU opened its doors this fall after over a year of renovations. The work was part of Colgate’s broader effort to preserve historic features to maintain their character while considering updated study space needs, social spaces and parking.
Senior Matthew Sherter, a DU chapter member and resident, shared his enthusiasm about the remodeling.
“The school did a complete renovation of the interior of the house. We have brand new furniture for the living and dining room and equipment in the kitchen,” Sherter said. “The house has also been decked out with ’Gate card access for the residential floors and bedrooms and sizable singles and doubles with full-sized beds. The main purpose of the renovation was to separate living spaces from social spaces — we now have a basement twice the size and a newly reconfigured brothers’ room.”
DU’s reunion at 66 Broad St. has re-energized its members, who see the renovations as an opportunity to strengthen both their residential environment and larger community.
“All of the DU members living in the house are excited about the new chapter house and are looking forward to putting our own personal twist on the space to make it our own,” Sherter said.
Another notable change this summer was the demolition of 70 Broad St., better known on campus as “the Loj,” a residence primarily housing students in Colgate’s Outdoor Education (OE) program. Initially planned as a renovation, architectural and safety reviews revealed that the existing layout would not allow for the installation of essential safety features, such as fire sprinklers. As a result, the Village of Hamilton Planning Board approved the building for demolition in late January 2025.
Construction on a new building, which will maintain the same distinctive yellow design as originally planned, is set to begin in spring 2026. Like DU, 70 Broad St.’s blueprint aims to modernize facilities while preserving Colgate’s historic character.
OE leader and junior Alexis Kim, who stayed at Colgate over the summer and witnessed the Loj’s demolition, shared her enthusiasm about the project.
“I hope the Loj gets reconstructed in time before I graduate, and I hope that the reconstruction maintains the charm of the original Loj that we loved so much,” Kim said.
For students and staff, the demolition marks the end of a familiar chapter in campus life, but it also paves the way for safer, more functional housing that better meets the needs of current and future OE participants.
The final end-of-summer update saw the grand opening of Peter’s Glen, a new 2.5-acre landscaped corridor connecting Middle Campus to the Academic Quad that began construction in Fall 2024. Designed by internationally renowned firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the Glen features stone terraces, plazas and nearly 500 newly planted trees, creating both a scenic pathway and a functional solution to long-standing stormwater drainage issues on the hill above Taylor Lake.
Reflecting on its long-anticipated opening, Colgate’s landscape Project Manager, Katy Jacobs, emphasized its ambitious nature.
“Years of planning, design, and construction have culminated in this final month of work, which sees us achieving final completion ahead of schedule and on budget,” Jacobs wrote in a university-wide email.
In his own email, University President Brian Casey praised the Glen as a “remarkable new landmark” that will serve generations of Colgate students.
Students have already started to form opinions about the new space, such as first-year Rex Grube.
“I think it’s a really nice area, and it definitely makes it easier to get down to the lower part of campus. Even though all the steps can be a lot sometimes, I really like the direction that the design of campus is being taken in, especially with all the trees being planted at Peter’s Glen and the design of Bernstein Hall down there as well,” Grube said.
Sophomore Elliot Johnson is similarly excited and eager to see the final product.
“I believe it’s a great change because it allows easy passage up to Frank. However, I am excited to see how the vegetation and water features develop more, as it feels a little unfinished now,” Johnson said.
