The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 8 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on April 30, 2021.
By Emma Overton ’21 and Adam Hartzer ’23
Editor-in-Chief and News Editor | Managing Editor and Layout Editor
overtoneg@lfc.edu | hartzeraj@lfc.edu
Originally known as College Hall, Young Hall has a rich history at Lake Forest College since its construction in the late 1870s. According to the team overseeing the current renovation of Young Hall, which includes James Kemper Foundation Professor of Economics Jeffrey Sundberg serving as building coordinator for the project , Vice President for Finance and Planning and Treasurer Lori Sundberg, and Krebs Provost and Dean of the Faculty Davis Schneiderman, the building was built “using bricks made from clay taken from the site of the Donnelley and Lee Library. The building had a library, laboratories, a chapel, and residence hall rooms, and was the center of what was then Lake Forest University.”
Over a century later, the building underwent a major renovation in the 1980s to transform it into Young Hall. Now, following, a third renovation, the building is nearly ready to open to the campus community. Set to be named in honor of College Trustee William G. Brown and his wife Solange Brown, the renovated building will be expanded to twice its current space and will create a distinct home for the social sciences, math, computer science, and data science departments when it debuts in the fall 2021 semester.
Students, including Laurel Robbins ’23, Alex Cantey ’22 and Kelsey Akins ‘23, who had classes in Young Hall in previous semesters, all shared their excitement for the renovations. Robbins noted that “Young Hall was in dire need of renovations,” and recalled that the building was “cold and drafty…during the spring semester.” Cantey agreed, stating that having her classes on the top floors of the building was “a bit annoying b[ecause]the stairs are so steep, [and]if lots of people [were]going both up and down the stairways it [was]crammed.” Akins commented on the building’s need for air conditioning, noting, “the lack of air conditioning was definitely a difficulty,” during her classes.
Construction has been progressing on-time with the project expected to be completed in time for students to utilize the space during the upcoming fall semester. This summer, final inspections will take place, furniture will be delivered, and faculty will move into their new offices in early August, according to the project’s team. While landscaping and some exterior work will continue beyond August, the interior of the building is expected to be functional for students at the start of the fall semester.
As a result of the expansion, students can expect a mix of spaces that accommodate different studying preferences.
“Students will be able to take advantage of four new areas for private or group study, as well as lots of opportunity to sit alone or in small groups. There will also be private meeting rooms that will sometimes be available for student use. Seating will be a mix of chair styles, benches, and a few loveseats. Various sizes of tables will be available in these seating areas. We will also have a vending area, and two single-user restrooms in addition to the traditional style of restrooms,” according to the team.
With these new classrooms and study areas, students can expect an enhanced academic experience. With new seating arrangements that encourage collaboration, the furniture can be easily reconfigured to accommodate different teaching and learning styles.
Coupled with the different physical arrangements, students and faculty can expect to see new technology in the space.
“We will have eight classrooms that feature advanced integrated displays that allow a variety of new teaching methods to be used. Two rooms feature monitors on all four walls to allow a variety of group and independent learning experiences,” according to the team.
In addition to the expanded academic spaces, the expansion of Young Hall will also become the new home of the Career Advancement Center (CAC).
With the move from their current location in Buchanan Hall on South Campus to Middle Campus, Career Advancement Center Director Colleen Monks is excited to integrate the career opportunities available to students with their academic pursuits. “While career development has always been an integral part of the student learning experience at Lake Forest College, the Career Advancement Center’s move to Brown Hall will provide students with a physical, everyday reminder of that importance, and the new location will make it that much easier for students to stop by the CAC for appointments,” Monks shares. “The CAC is also very excited about the new event space and the ways it will enhance our ability to connect students with our Forester Network for professional networking opportunities.”
In addition to the financial gift from the Browns, funding for the renovation of Young Hall was made possible through alumni donations.
“It’s rare to come across alumni who don’t have fond memories of taking classes in [Young] Brown Hall,” Associate Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Kim Weidner-Feigh shares. “…when we shared the plans with them, and asked them to donate, they rose to the occasion. We’ve had alumni donors from the 1950s all the way to 2020. You’ll soon see their names on the brick patio and throughout the building, proudly displayed alongside the names of parents, local residents, students, faculty and staff who joined them in donating to make it possible.”
Weidner-Feigh noted that the Office of Development and Alumni Relations is most looking forward to showing not just alumni, but all of the donors—parents, faculty and staff, local residents—the renovated building in person.
“Pictures are great but there’s something about being there and seeing what was made possible by their generosity that makes it real for all of us. And, it will be great to be able to host events right here on campus in the new building. It’s stunning,” Weidner-Feigh says.
Students like Robbins agree with Weidner-Feigh and are looking forward to the opening of Brown Hall. Robbins noted that “since [I have] been remote for COVID…I haven’t seen the renovations in person yet,” but shared she is “excited to see it in person.” Cantey agreed, stating that she is “most excited just to see how different it’ll be” and that she is looking forward to visiting “professors’ offices and [seeing]…their reactions to the [renovated]building.” Similarly, Akins noted that she is “looking forward to . . . the air conditioning.” She further stated, “I think [air conditioning]will help students stay focused, especially during the warmer months of the semester. I think this added space will be beneficial and I am excited to see what the new classroom layout is like in the building.”
