Dear Medical Education Community,

Work is beginning this week as we launch continued renovations to improve student space in Café Med, Spinelli Lounge, and the gym. I appreciate our Yale project manager, contractor, and construction team hosting a meeting last week to share timing/logistics and answer questions. I also appreciate their eagerness to ensure the project is completed with as little disruption as possible to everyone who lives, studies, and works in Harkness. Below is a summary of the information shared at last week’s meeting.

Timing: The construction team’s usual schedule will be 5 a.m. to early afternoon, on weekdays. Work will be done on Saturdays, when necessary. We anticipate the renovations to be completed by the end of April 2025.

Four-week look ahead: The project/construction team will send out a regular four-week look ahead communication, so that everyone is aware of what will be happening on the construction front. We will forward this communication to the Med Ed community. The first one is here.

Contact information: Below are three key contacts, who you should reach out to if you have any construction-related concerns/questions:

Shawn Forest

Cell: 475.331.3566

Shawn is the site superintendent. He will be on scene often and so should be your first point of contact.

Julie Mangino:
julie.mangino@yale.edu
Cell: 475.321.1565
Yale project manager

Erik Lee:

Cell: 203.627.1684

The names/contact information for the team leaders also will be on a sign near the construction site.

Maps:

First floor renovations

Basement renovations

Below is a summary of the anticipated timeline, organized by location:

Basement:

Phase 1: Construction in unused basement space to create a new locker room (July 29, 2024 – January 7, 2025)

Phase 2: Expand gym into the current locker room space, once the new locker room is ready (January 7, 2025 – April 29, 2025)

HVAC/electrical for Harkness areas: (December 24, 2024 – January 30, 2025)

First Floor:

Phase 1: Café Med (July 22, 2024 - December 9, 2024)

Phase 2: Spinelli Lounge (December 9, 2024 – March 26, 2025)

Roof:

Spinelli Roof (January 8, 2025 – February 12, 2025)

Below are the expected significant construction impacts:

• Loud noise during demolition: This only should be an issue for about four weeks, starting in August. The construction team will work with us to minimize disruption (e.g., not doing work at times people use the clinical skill spaces)

• Very limited impact on the gym: There will be miscellaneous days when the gym may be shut down and occasional short, intermittent electrical shutdowns in the gym.
• Café Med stage in Phase 1 construction zone: The stage will not be accessible from late July until around December 9. A temporary sheetrock wall will be constructed in front of the stage to isolate the work.
• Café Med accessible during Spinelli Lounge construction: All of Café Med will be open while the work in Spinelli Lounge is being done. However, occasionally some access to the ceiling of Café Med will be necessary during this time. The team will coordinate this work as necessary.
• Partial basement corridor closed: Winter 2024-2025. Dates to be confirmed.

Again, it is exciting that this work is underway! Please reach out with any questions.

Sincerely,

Jessica Illuzzi, MD
Deputy Dean for Education