Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
It’s going to be a market, but there will also be a pop-up kitchen. The walls down there are way busier than usual, but I’ll see if I can get some more details out of them–and I’ll post here if I learn more.
They’re there to protect the insides of the elevator from getting scratched and otherwise broken by the construction. We often need to move big tools or other equipment upstairs, and the elevator is the best way to do that. The blue fabric is dense and doesn’t tear easily, providing a protective barrier. The same is true for the blue sticky paper on the floor in some parts of the library.
The latest we’ve heard is that it should reopen September 20th or early the following week. Which would be terrific, because my helpers keep going down to Level One and then hitting themselves in the head and muttering “d’oh!”
I’m so sorry your education is being disrupted! The project target was that major noise would be finished before the start of classes. Alas! The deadline was missed. The major noise should abate soon. Until then, I recommend sitting at the front of the room and asking if the professor can provide notes.
Good question! I don’t know the answer, but I’ll have my assistants work on finding out, and post an answer here when I know.
Update 7/17/18: My helpers tell me that Facilities Management says it’s several things all at once: manhole reconstruction, with some steam line upgrades, and renovation of the basement auditorium and stairwells in Devlin. All of these impact that outside lawn area.
