After a year and a half of preparation, Lasell Village is undergoing renovations for the first time since 2018, with an expansion bringing new living units and facilities to current and future residents, according to assistant vice president of facilities and capital management for Lasell University and Lasell Village, Ben Bailey.
The project will be called the “McGuire Hall Expansion Project.” A new building is being constructed on Seminary Avenue that will contain 42 independent living apartments, wellness and fitness spaces, a multipurpose room, a library, and a brand new bistro.
A new elevated footbridge will also be constructed to connect McGuire Hall to the Village Town Hall, the main space that connects residents from all across the community.
The name for McGuire Hall was chosen through a community-wide contest, and will honor Jean McGuire, a trailblazer in educational equity and a founding member of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity. President of Lasell Village Zehra Abid-Wood explains how McGuire’s lifelong commitment to driving positive change in the world reflects essential values held at Lasell Village.
“This project has been years in the making and is beginning with significant site work, including the leveling of a hill and the careful relocation of a historic home to make way for this exciting expansion,” said Abid-Wood. “It reaffirms Lasell Village’s commitment to lifelong learning, community engagement, and intergenerational connection.”
McGuire Hall will not only feature newly constructed facilities, but also include a renovated historic house. Originally built in 1865, the structure at 24 Robin Dell is part of the Auburndale Historic District and will be preserved, improved, and connected to the rest of the Village through the expansion.
24 Robin Dell was recently purchased by Lasell Village in addition to the whole of the property that has been owned by Lasell University since its original construction in 1998, and two other pieces of land where the current expansion is taking place.
Bailey explained that the house will be picked up and rotated 90 degrees to face Grove Street, and will undergo environmentally-conscious renovations during the expansion.
The house construction will be following “passive house” standards, which increase energy efficiency by decreasing needs for heating and cooling through better insulation, ventilation, and airtightness.
“We believe we’re the first ever historic house in the district that’s also passive house,” Bailey said.
In 2018, the Village’s last renovations included the addition of new carpeting and paint, as well as updated amenity spaces for the residents.
Five smart classrooms were also added to better support remote intergenerational learning throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re always trying to make improvements that make sense for the residents we have, but also stay competitive in the marketplace and make sure we attract new clients,” Bailey said.
Bailey shared that the cost of the current McGuire Hall Expansion will be about $89 million, but will increase to $108 million in its second phase, which will ideally begin next fall after the acquisition of permits.
The final half of the project will bring renovations to the nursing and supported living floors found in the Town Hall building. The nursing floor is currently a 38-bed licensed facility, which will be reduced to a 23-bed facility to include more private bathrooms for the residents.
“We mainly serve our own residents and we take in some outside short term rehab-type patients, so losing the beds helps us with our economy of scale to spend more time and money on our own residents, but also have a more private, infection-controlled environment where they can be safe and have all the amenities you’d expect when you’re not feeling well” Bailey said.
President Eric Turner shared his dedication to intergenerational learning in a statement about the impact of the new construction.
“The expansion of Lasell Village reflects our commitment to lifelong learning, community engagement, and innovation,” Turner said. “This project is not just about increasing capacity; it is about enhancing the quality of life and educational opportunities for everyone in our community. By expanding Lasell Village, we are ensuring that Lasell remains a leader in intergenerational learning.”
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