A new hydrotherapy room for student-athletes, a new Writing Center, and more parking spaces are among more than a dozen campus improvement projects taking place this summer as Providence College prepares for the opening of the 2008-09 academic year.

Many of the infrastructure improvements have been under way throughout the late spring and summer months.

One of the more noteworthy projects is a hydrotherapy room addition in the Canavan Sports Medicine Center in Alumni Hall. The room will house three physical therapy pools for student-athletes.

Other indoor projects taking place this summer include:

• another phase of renovations to Phillips Memorial Library, which will include moving the Office of Academic Services from the lower level to the upper level and establishing a Writing Center;
• a major overhaul of a 120-seat classroom in Albertus Magnus Hall in the sciences complex, which will include new seating, a new heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system, and the latest classroom technology;
• refurbishing the former Blackfriars Theatre in Harkins Hall, which will include constructing four classrooms, a large meeting space, and installing new windows;
• relocating the Department of Military Science in the lower level of Alumni Hall;
• renovating Room 400 (the "function room") in the Feinstein Academic Center to accommodate a new faculty lounge;
• expanding the Alumni Hall Food Court to accommodate a new bakery area, walk-in coolers, and additional storage space; and
• upgrading the electrical and fire safety systems in the Fennell Hall residential facility.

In addition, exterior upgrades include:

• replacing the roof on Peterson Recreation Center and replacing the name on the center, which was taken down two years ago due to construction of the Concannon Fitness Center (The center is named for the late Rev. Thomas R. Peterson, O.P., the ninth president of Providence College.);
• constructing a walkway that connects Phillips Memorial Library and St. Dominic Chapel (The walkway will partially consist of bricks that were the gift of the Class of 2006 and from a campaign directed by the Office of Institutional Advancement.);
• replacing the stairs and sidewalks outside of the McVinney Hall residential facility and constructing a sidewalk on McVinney property leading up from the Concannon Fitness Center;
• undertaking a renovation project at the River Avenue entrance to the College, which will include a new traffic pattern for entering the campus, new sidewalks, additional green space, and a bronze plaque honoring the late Rev. John F. Cunningham, O.P., the College's 10th president;
• erecting a wall featuring the College's seal on the corner of Huxley Avenue and Eaton Street (The wall and seal are gifts from the Class of 2008);
• adding more than 20 parking spaces near Hickey Hall; and
• installing a sprinkler system on the Main Campus quadrangle, which is bounded by Aquinas, Meagher, and McDermott halls.