RIT announces nearly 100 campus improvement projects underway this summer

Rochester, New York – With the spring semester now wrapped up, Rochester Institute of Technology has shifted into its busiest construction period of the year, with nearly 100 renovation and infrastructure projects underway across campus. While students are away for summer break, crews are working at full speed to prepare the university for the return of new and returning students in August.

Much of the visible work this year is centered on residence halls, which are continuing to undergo major upgrades as part of a long-term, five-year improvement plan. According to Michael Dellefave, director of construction/project management and off campus properties, the projects include masonry repairs, roofing work, installation of smart locks in student rooms, and the replacement of underground heating pipes and fire alarm systems. One notable milestone already reached is that all residence halls on the east side of campus now have air conditioning, marking a significant comfort upgrade for students living in those buildings.

Beyond housing, several academic buildings are also seeing major updates. In Sol Huemann Hall and Fredericka Douglass Sprague Perry Hall, crews are replacing network cabling while also refreshing interior spaces. These improvements are aimed at strengthening connectivity and modernizing learning environments at a time when digital infrastructure plays a larger role in daily academic life.

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The College of Liberal Arts is also part of the summer construction wave. Work there includes new flooring, fresh paint, updated lighting, and ceiling replacements designed to give classrooms and common spaces a renewed look and feel. Similar upgrades are taking place across campus offices, where carpeting is being replaced and interiors are being refreshed in multiple departments.

Booth Hall is undergoing a more specialized transformation, with the addition of a new media suite and graphic design area. The building is also receiving upgraded flooring and lighting, while air conditioning is being installed in both Booth and Gannett halls. Meanwhile, laboratory spaces in Institute Hall and the University Services Center are being outfitted with new equipment to support ongoing research and technical work.

Classroom modernization is also a major focus this summer, with around 30 classrooms receiving upgraded audio-visual systems to enhance teaching and learning experiences. These updates are being paired with general maintenance work, including carpeting replacements and interior touch-ups in office spaces across campus.

Outside, improvements are just as active. Tree planting is underway, especially in pedestrian-heavy areas, as part of a broader effort to improve the campus landscape. Several parking areas are also being resealed, patched, and restriped to improve safety and accessibility for drivers and pedestrians alike.

One of the most ambitious outdoor changes involves the walkway south of the RIT Performing Arts Center, which will be transformed into what will be known as the Munson Quad. Designed using principles from RIT’s master plan, the space will prioritize pedestrian movement with new landscaping, additional trees, diagonal walking paths, and angled seating areas. RIT architect and director of planning and design James Yarrington described the project as a key step in reshaping the campus experience. “I think it will be a very nice addition to the campus, and our first new design project this year,” he said. “This has become a very important pedestrian nexus to campus, a gateway to a lot of places.”

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Another major project is taking shape at Jefferson Place, located at 175 Jefferson Road. Work there is underway to prepare half of the building for future occupational therapy facilities that will serve RIT’s College of Health Sciences and Technology starting this fall. The remaining portion of the building will continue to function as student housing, creating a mixed-use space that supports both academic and residential needs.

Yarrington noted that the summer season brings a unique dynamic for facilities teams, as quieter campus activity allows for an intense focus on construction. “Given the high volume of projects of all types, the paradox of summer for RIT Facilities Services Management is that as the tempo of academic and student life drops for the season, project work goes into overdrive to accomplish as much as possible before the community returns in force each fall,” he said.

As summer progresses, the scale and variety of these projects reflect a broader effort to modernize infrastructure, improve student life, and prepare the campus for the next academic year. From residence halls to research labs and outdoor spaces, nearly every corner of campus is seeing some level of transformation before students return in August.