President's House — Next Step in Hill Consolidation

Project funded entirely through contributions by current and past Clarkson Board of Trustees.

Architect's rendering of the President's
House currently under construction.

What a university calls a president's "house" is actually an all-purpose reception center and gathering place. When the academic year is in full swing, any given night could find a meeting, dinner or other special event taking place.

And, by the way, there is also space for the president and his/her family to live.

Last February, after deciding to sell the off-campus Hepburn House, the Clarkson Board of Trustees unanimously approved construction of a new President's House to be nestled in a wooded area near Moore House.

"The construction of a new home for the Clarkson President on the Hill Campus was included in the 1996 Campus Master Plan," says Clarkson Board of Trustees Chair Everett G. Foster. "At that time everyone agreed that we had an obligation to provide a President's House with ample space for multipurpose entertaining and modern family living. This need was reinforced during our last presidential search when a number of the candidates voiced concerns regarding Hepburn House's offsite location and the need for substantial updates and renovations."

Foster points out that as a Board-driven initiative, all of the funds needed to complete the project have been raised through generous donations from current, emeriti and past trustees.

"We are sensitive to the fact that many of our alumni donors are finishing up commitments they made to the successful Campaign for Clarkson or wish to earmark their support for academic programs or initiatives that directly impact our students," he said. "We felt strongly that this was a project that was best left to the Board to manage and we have done that."

Construction of the tudor-style house began this summer with an expected completion date of July 2006. Designed for full accessibility, the building plans include a formal reception and banquet room for special events, alumni and admission activities, and official University entertaining. The second floor will provide living quarters for the University president and his/her family.

"The current president and his family have been very accommodating, remaining in their Potsdam village home while we move this project through," adds Foster. "And we are appreciative of that gesture."

It is, Foster believes, a project that will benefit the wider Clarkson community. "Many of our large campus events cannot be properly staged in the spaces we currently have. It will also ensure that President Collins and future presidents remain highly visible on campus in their day-to-day lives."