Capital Projects
Vassar Institute for the Liberal Arts
Construction Alerts
The entrance from College Ave to Alumnae House is currently closed to accommodate construction activities. The Fulton Ave entrance is available to access the Alumnae House during the construction project. Read more.
Activity Overview
1/12/23
Happy New Year! Watch this time-lapse Vassar Institute Work Zone Cam video and see some photos from the work site.
Hours of work: 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. on weekdays.
For concerns and inquiries about this project, please contact instituteproject@vassar.edu or call (845) 790-9210.
Project Description | Site Logistics | Sustainability Initiatives | Project Team




Project Description
Nestled on the south side of the Alumnae House lawn at the campus gateway, Vassar’s new Institute for the Liberal Arts will combine conference space with 50 guest rooms and a restaurant.
The design of the building preserves the domestic scale of the surrounding neighborhood by using three discrete elements: a three-story gable roof inn; a two-story Institute with a restaurant below; and a glass lobby to create the notion of a public living room.
The landscape design creates a welcoming approach with fully accessible pathways and highlights native plant species and on-site stormwater filtration.
Site Logistics

Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability initiatives include:
- Carbon-neutral building burning no fossil fuels
- Geothermal, solar-thermal, solar-photovoltaic, and renewable electricity
- Day-lit spaces and LED energy-efficient lighting
- Stormwater filtration basins to reduce pollutant runoff
- Landscaping and vegetation supports pollinators and stormwater uptake
- Innovative approaches such as low-carbon, recycled-contents brick used in construction
Read more on the Sustainability website.
Project Team
Vassar College
- Bryan Swarthout, Vice President for Finance and Administration
- Marianne H. Begemann, Dean of Strategic Planning and Academic Resources
- Maryann Pilon, Senior Project Manager
Construction Manager
Consigli Construction
- Scott Cruikshank, Project Executive
- Bill Mergl, Senior Project Manager
- Steve Rauchendorfer, Project Superintendent
- Shannon Cunningham, Assistant Project Manager
Architect
Frederick Fisher and Partners
- David Ross, Partner in Charge
- Matt Kelley, Partner, Design Lead
- Dale Suttle, Project Manager
- Christina Kwak, Project Architect
- Adelaide Mackintosh, Designer
The Olympia Companies—Hotel & Restaurant
- Sara Masterson, President, Hotel Management
- Mike Zimmerman, President, Development