Wellesley College

whitin observatory

Wellesley, Massachusetts

โ€œ[The observatory is] a poster child for how you can redesign space in a cost-effective, historically relevant, and sustainable way.โ€
— Professor of Geosciences

The Whitin Observatory has been home to the astronomy department at Wellesley College since 1900. The original building was built on a remote hill within the campus arboretumโ€” far from the heart of campusโ€” in order to minimize light pollution from neighboring facilities that could interfere with nighttime observations. designLABโ€™s renovation and addition retains Whitin Observatoryโ€™s identity as a 19th century pavilion amid the lush, bucolic woodland, while enhancing its mission, functionality, and identity. 

The addition houses a teaching lab, which serves students across departments, as well as office and support spaces for faculty. The renovation restored the original library and established a new computer lab and seminar room, returning lost spaces to their full potential.

  • Type: Renovation & Addition

    Size: 9,000 SF

    Status: Completed, 2011

    Sustainability: LEED Silver

    Photography: Peter Vanderwarker, Richard Howard, Lisa Abitbol

  • 2013 Tsongas Award, Preservation Massachusetts

    2012 Merit Award for Design Excellence, AIA New England

    2012 Honor Award for Design Excellence, Boston Society for Architecture

impact

The observatory has long played the role as gateway to the sciences for those who otherwise might not approach it. With the introduction of geosciences and earth sciences, it now formally supports cross-discipline collaboration. The library and specialty classrooms draw many programs outside the sciences, hosting things such as campus tours, writing classes, and symposia on important topics like diversity and inclusion. Through its reinvigoration, Whitin Observatory remains a place of pride for the Wellesley community.