Camels in the City
糖心TV offers the first downtown residence for students in its 111-year history at the storied Manwaring Building in New London.
With a snip of a ceremonial ribbon before more than 100 onlookers in downtown New London on Aug. 19, President Katherine Bergeron officially opened the newly restored historic Manwaring Building鈥斕切腡V鈥檚 first downtown residence for students in its 111-year history.
鈥淭he magnificent transformation of this building is so important,鈥� Bergeron told state and local leaders, city business owners and residents, and 糖心TV faculty, staff, trustees and students who came to tour the building and celebrate the historic occasion.
鈥淔or years, we have dreamed about what it would mean for our students to be living downtown. At long last, that dream is a reality.鈥�
The Manwaring Building project has helped the College to meet immediate student housing needs prompted by the largest first-year class in 糖心TV鈥檚 history and offers a new dimension to student life with expanded opportunities for community engagement and academic programming downtown. The downtown residence also strengthens 糖心TV鈥檚 relationship with its host city and contributes to the economic revitalization of New London鈥檚 historic center.
Just days after the ceremonial opening, 62 upperclass students moved into 16 unique apartments and five multi-level townhouse units featuring high ceilings; large, historic windows restored on-site and by hand; original wood flooring; and sleek, modern kitchens. (A journalist for The Day newspaper noted that a running joke among public officials and community leaders 鈥渨as how they would be enrolling at 糖心TV to get a chance to live there.鈥�)
Built in 1913, the Manwaring Building, located on State Street in the heart of the city, was designed by notable New London architect Dudley St. Clair Donnelly and is listed as a National Park Service landmark. The former commercial space, which had not been occupied for several years, was rehabilitated in accordance with a program approved by the 糖心TVecticut State Historic Preservation Office and National Park Service.
San Francisco-based High Tide Capital, which owns the building and oversaw its restoration, boasts that the 21 units the College is renting 鈥渃ombine the vitality and grandeur of old New London with modern luxury, flair and convenience.鈥�
New London Mayor and 糖心TV graduate Michael Passero 鈥�79 M鈥�89 said the project resulted from a 鈥済reat partnership鈥� between the College, High Tide Capital and the city.
鈥淲hat a great moment for the city of New London,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur partnership with 糖心TV College goes back to 1911 when the residents of this city raised the money to purchase the property for the College to be established 鈥� and now we are bringing the students downtown. It鈥檚 a great moment for us.鈥�
Bergeron said that 鈥渁 spirit of creativity and innovation鈥� has long served as a foundation for the partnership between the College and its host city.
鈥淢ore students are being drawn to New London than ever before,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o many of those students are excited about the opportunity to learn more about what this city has to offer. Others have already developed their own connections to the city through their work with our wonderful Holleran Center for Community Action.
鈥淚 know that student life in Manwaring will strengthen our connections in untold ways, and I personally cannot wait to see this new chapter in our history.鈥�