Norwich University

Academic Year 2003/04

The Architecture, Landscape, Memorial and Decoration Advisory (ALMDA) Committee meets on an as-needed basis. The Committee is charged with evaluating proposed changes in land use, landscaping, decoration, memorials, and architectural modifications or additions on any Norwich University property.

The Committee met twice during academic year 2003/04. The major issues addressed by the Committee include:

  1. Alumni Hall Renovation Project: the Committee continued its review of this $6.2 million renovation project. Since initial discussions on this project, the Committee has strongly advocated including a full historical restoration of the exterior. This recommendation was made to the Trustee Facilities Planning Committee, which endorsed this restoration and authorized an extra $600,000 in expenditures.

  2. Exterior Signage: Facilities Operations wanted to increase the number and improve the quality of exterior signs. The Committee reviewed several designs and suggested some modifications. These modifications were incorporated and a new standard was established. The first such signs were installed in the summer of 2004.

  3. Road Upgrade: the Committee reviewed and endorsed a significant road upgrade project at the southeast side of campus.

  4. Steel Sculpture: the Committee spent time in a few meetings reviewing a proposal to erect a steel sculpture to be used as a teaching tool for Engineering. After the Engineering team made some Committeerequested modifications, the Committee endorsed this project.

  5. Pritzker Museum: the Committee was shown progress drawings of the new Pritzker Museum at both the December 10, 2003 and April 13, 2004 meetings. Few criticisms of the design were made at the December meeting. However, at the April 13, 2004 meeting 5 members of the 8 person committee were particularly dissatisfied with the exterior design. These members wrote a critique of the exterior design. This critique, in its entirety, was relayed to President Schneider and the Facilities Planning Committee. The Facilities Planning Committee discussed these concerns, at length, at its May 10 meeting and at a follow-up conference call on May 20. Ultimately, and much to the dismay of some ALMDA Committee members, the Trustees approved the exterior design with few modifications.