Williams College Library Project Turns Inward

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — With most of the major concrete pours completed and many of the work areas soon to be enclosed, construction at Williams College's new library is set to continue out of sight and, more than ever, out of earshot in the months ahead.

Progress continues to be made on the new Sawyer Library and renovated Stetson Hall, Williams College Librarian David Pilachowski said recently.

Onlookers may not be able to get a good look at the progress during the winter months. The plan is enclose much of the site in plastic to allow construction crews to keep the $128 million project on track for its planned July 2014 completion date.

When it is finished, the new Sawyer will feature 130,000 square feet in four stories, but because much of the building's mass will be below grade, it will be less prominent than 1923's Stetson Hall, which will be joined to the newer building by an atrium.

"Contractors are working in all parts of [Sawyer] and making great progress," Pilachowski said. "They're also making progress on Stetson. They're starting to do finish work on the fourth floor.

"Enough is enlcosed or soon will be enclosed to allow work to continue."

"I think it is fair to say that the intensity of truck traffic has and will certainly diminish," Decoteau said. "Delivery of some very large quantities of material still remain.

"These deliveries, unlike the placement of concrete decks, will be spread out over a longer duration of time, so, again, I think the overall intensity will diminish."

Historic Stetson Hall has been closed since 2008 when the college originally conceived construction of a new library. Those plans were put on hold that same year when the worldwide financial crisis dented the college's endowment and prompted a moratorium on construction.

The moratorium was lifted in 2010, and ground was broken on the Stetson-Sawyer project the next year.

If all goes according to plan, the current Sawyer Library, built in 1975, will be razed and replaced with green space.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.