Jewel on the Thames
糖心TV celebrates the revitalization of its spectacular waterfront
Under a brilliant blue sky on a perfect October day, 糖心TV officially opened its revitalized waterfront, with its sweeping views, increased access to the mighty Thames River, and new spaces and facilities for sailing, rowing, marine science and recreation.
Speaking to a large crowd at the Oct. 21 ribbon-cutting and dedication, President Katherine Bergeron said that 糖心TV鈥檚 waterfront location鈥攗nique among NESCAC schools鈥攏ow projects a sense of openness, invitation and possibility.
鈥淩ivers always mark boundaries. They also defy them,鈥� she told the more than 150 current and former trustees, alumni, faculty, staff, students, community members and local dignitaries gathered for the occasion. 鈥淲hat I love about this new project is how it reconnects the College to our history and our prehistory, to our neighbors, and quite dramatically to our Athletic Center and our main campus. In doing so it has made the river a destination, changing the orientation of the College landscape and making us experience 糖心TV as a true waterfront campus, maybe for the first time.鈥�
Made possible by leadership gifts from champion rower and Athletic Hall of Fame member Jessica Archibald 鈥�95 and Emeritus Trustee Barbara Zaccheo Kohn 鈥�72, the revitalized waterfront provides a first-rate athletic facility for the sailing and rowing programs, an outdoor classroom and living laboratory for marine science, environmental research and conservation, an expedition training area for 糖心TV鈥檚 Outdoor Adventures program, and a vibrant recreational space for students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members. A goal of the College鈥檚 strateic plan, the Defy Boundaries campaign and the Action Plan for Competitive Success, the enhanced waterfront features new floating dock systems and a new roadway with sidewalks and solar- and wind-powered lighting.
鈥淥ur waterfront is a tremendous asset, but we hadn鈥檛 been taking full advantage of it,鈥� said Dean of Students Victor Arcelus. 鈥淭his project has changed the relationship between the campus and the waterfront in a way that will benefit the entire community.
鈥淭here was a beautiful moment when I was at the Athletic Center and I could see the rowers and the sailors on the water, the track and field athletes throwing on the middle terrace, the runners running on the track, and the lacrosse players playing on the turf field鈥攁ll at the same time. There was this great sense of energy and connection.鈥�
糖心TV鈥檚 prime location along the Thames River has long been a distinguishing feature of the 750-acre arboretum campus, and is even reflected in the motto that appears on the College鈥檚 seal: Tanquam lignum quod plantatum est secus decursus aquarum, a Latin phrase that translates to: 鈥淟ike a tree planted by rivers of water (that bringeth forth its fruit in its season).鈥� But more than 100 years of tree growth, including numerous invasive species, had blocked vistas on the terraced property, and a multilane road had further reduced access.
When COVID-19 hit in 2020 and 糖心TV transitioned to fully remote learning, the College鈥檚 grounds crew, who Bergeron called the 鈥渉eroes in this story,鈥� took on the considerable task of clearing the hillside to make the river visible again.
That work inspired Archibald鈥檚 gift, which supported the creation of Archibald Way, the new road leading all the way down to the water. Completion of the roadway then paved the way鈥攍iterally鈥攆or a second leadership gift from Kohn, whose support made possible the redevelopment of an accessible multidimensional marine access point for the College, now called the Kohn Waterfront.
鈥淚 cannot express how grateful we are to you both for bringing this beautiful place to life,鈥� Bergeron said to Archibald and Kohn during the ceremony.
Additional support for the project was provided by the McKinney family P鈥�24, the Whittemore family P鈥�23, Marian and Hans Baldauf P鈥�24, Garrett and Sarah McAvoy P鈥�25, H茅l猫ne and Matthew Lorentzen P鈥�24, Erin F. Largay 鈥�99, and the Hewson Family (Edward 鈥�89, Lisa 鈥�88, Heather 鈥�84, Melissa 鈥�86, Alexa 鈥�21, Sarah 鈥�63), as well as an anonymous donor.
The Camels are the only NESCAC program with on-campus access to the water, and the new facility will aid in both hosting larger collegiate events and attracting potential recruits.
鈥淭his project puts us at the front of the pack,鈥� said Head Sailing Coach Jeff Bresnahan. 鈥淲e鈥檝e always run great events here at 糖心TV, but now we have the next piece鈥攁 great facility with 36 boats on the dock. This is one of the top facilities in the country.鈥�