The Office of Institutional Advancement now has a second place on campus to call home.

This summer, staff members in alumni relations and operations, as well the vice president and his executive assistant, all moved into the renovated Martin Hall on the Main Campus. Formerly the residence of the College’s executive vice president, Martin Hall was built in 1850 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Development officers and staff members in the Office of Institutional Advancement will continue to work out of Harkins Hall.

“The new office allows us to accommodate a growing staff; we just didn’t have enough space,” said William G. Eustis, vice president for institutional advancement. “This also presents an opportunity for us to entertain more frequently.”

Eustis emphasized that he would like all alumni and members of the College community to feel welcome to visit and make use of Martin Hall at all times, saying it is “their home.” Dates for two open houses will be announced soon.

The first floor of Martin Hall includes a large lobby/reception area, the offices of the vice president and his executive assistant, a multifunctional conference room, and a kitchen. Another room on the floor is being renovated to create two more offices for staff members.

The second floor is comprised mostly of offices but includes a small lounge/meeting area. The third floor—referred to as the “turret room” and the “tower”—is being renovated for use as a lounge.

When renovations are completed, more than a dozen institutional advancement staff members will be located in the building. The main phone number for the office remains 401-865-2414.

The renovations and office move are elements of the College’s Master Space Plan. One of the biggest projects required raising the sagging first and second floors by approximately 2.5 inches each, said Mark Rapoza, director of capital projects and facilities planning. Contractors, he noted, restored as much of the historical nature of the building—primarily plaster and cornice work—as possible.

In addition, fire and building codes have been updated, new duct work and piping have been installed, and the building is now air-conditioned.

Exterior plans call for landscaping, expanding the parking area in front of the building, and the construction of a terraced courtyard for small functions. Alumni who visit on weekends or after College operations hours on weekdays are welcome to park in the adjacent Phillips Memorial Library lot as well.