Memorial Hall Will Face Renovations Next Spring

Memorial Hall will be cleaned and polished for the 350th celebration, and major renovations are planned for next spring, Harvard Real Estate (HRE) officals said yesterday.

Minor renovations due to start this week will include replacing roof slates broken by snowfalls, polishing the wood and brass fixtures and "high dusting," that is, professional cleaning and oiling the walls up to a height of 32 feet, said HRE building manager Bob Hart.

Come next spring, major exterior renovations will begin, potentially followed by interior renovations, said Sally Zeckhauser, president of HRE. The exterior renovations include repairing the roof, completely cleaning the sandstone and brick walls, and repairing the stained-glass, she said.

Harvard has planned to use the Great Hall in Memorial Hall for special dinners for prominent alumni and guests attenting the 350th celebration. Charles, Prince of Wales, is a guest of honor at one of the dinners.

The 120-year-old Gothic building, currently used primarily for large lectures in Sanders Theater and exams in the Great Hall, may be renovated inside to increase its possible uses, said Zeckhauser. "We want to make sure we are using it in the best way we can to recover costs" of the exterior renovations.

The HRE Planning Committee has discussed possible alternative uses of Memorial Hall with faculty and student groups who currently use it, including the Chamber Music Orchestra and the Blood Drive, said Zeckhauser.

The committee recommended using the great hall for more functions,