Architect, donors named for new campus center
After years of discussion, a Harvard campus center came closer to fruition Thursday, when Harvard President Drew Faust introduced the donor and announced that an architect had been selected for an expansive facility to transform Holyoke Center. The center, expected to open in 2018, will be named for its major donors, Richard A. and Susan F. Smith, and designed by London-based Hopkins Architects. The planning process, which will begin this month, is anticipated to include substantial community and student input and last roughly a year and a half, with construction to begin in 2016. “The Smith Campus Center will draw members of the University community together and serve as an important common space for everyone to enjoy and use,” Faust said. “We are very pleased to be moving forward with planning, and we are eager to engage students, faculty, and staff in the important work of creating a flexible and welcoming campus...