Barnard Builds

Noise Impact Scale 

To help you gauge the expected noise levels and better prepare members of our community for what to expect, we’ve provided a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the quietest and 5 being loud and potentially disruptive:

1 out of 5: Quiet, typical indoor construction, minimally heard from outside the area of work.
2 out of 5: Noticeable but not very disruptive (e.g., an engine whirring intermittently).
3 out of 5: Moderate noise (e.g., periodic hammering with hand tools).
4 out of 5: Louder, more significant noise impact (e.g., emptying dumpsters/dump trucks collecting material).
5 out of 5: Loud (e.g., jackhammer operating on concrete or rock). 

The following construction work has been scheduled for March 6, 2026 through March 20, 2026.

The Roy and Diana Vagelos Science Center

• Weekend Work (Saturdays, 9:00am - 5:00pm):
  • On Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., workers will arrive at 8 a.m. There will be primarily interior work and work on the mechanical roof equipment, as well as in the area between the R&D Science Center and Milbank Hall. Aerial lift and alarms will be in use during this time. Anticipated noise impact is 3 out of 5.
  • Street Level Exterior Wall and Canopy Installation: Work includes installation of steel subframing and metal studs. Anticipated noise impact is 4 out of 5.
  • The hoist has now been fully removed.
• Weekday Work (Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 6:00pm):
  • Standard work hours are 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m
  • Interior Work: will extend from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Anticipated noise impact is 3 out of 5.
  • Concrete Work: Concrete trucks, pumps, and machinery will continue to operate on Claremont Avenue. Interior jackhammering will also continue. Anticipated noise impact is 4 out of 5.
  • Hoist Removal: Hoist removal is in progress and is expected to be completed in approximately one week. Anticipated noise impact is 5 out of 5.
  • Street Level Exterior Wall and Canopy Installation: Work includes installation of steel subframing and metal studs. Anticipated noise impact is 4 out of 5.
  • Demolition and Debris Removal: Noise from debris removal may peak at 3 out of 5 at times but will generally remain lower throughout the day. Anticipated noise impact is 3 out of 5.
  • Gateway Excavation: Soil removals will be taking place between Milbank and RDSC on West 119th St within the construction site. Anticipated noise impact is 3 out of 5.
• Milstein and Diana:
  • The Lower Level tunnel corridor between Milstein and Diana will be closed this Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. due to construction. Anticipated noise impact is 2 out of 5.
  • The Lower Level tunnel will also be closed during Spring Break starting Saturday, March 14, 5 a.m. to Saturday, March 21, 2026. Signage will be posted.

600 West 116th Street

• Exterior Facade Repairs: As part of required compliance with New York City Local Law 11, 600 West 116th Street is undergoing exterior façade repair and restoration work.
  • Removal of existing stone pieces is scheduled through April.
  • Work Hours are weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with loud activities starting after 9:00 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m.
  • Residents are advised to keep windows closed and blinds drawn during work hours to maintain privacy and minimize dust. Anticipated noise impact is expected to be around 5 out of 5.

Campus Exterior 

• Cooling & Heating Improvement Project: Two sidewalk pits will be opened on the Broadway sidewalk north of 116th Street and secured with construction barricades to ensure pedestrian safety. Work is expected to begin in March. Anticipated noise impact is 3 out of 5.
• Building facade close-up inspections: will begin throughout campus during Spring Break from March 16 to March 20. These inspections are being done to comply with New York City Local Law 11, which requires regular building safety inspections and maintenance.
  • The following buildings will be inspected:
    • 527 W 121st St.
    • 616 W 116th St.
    • 620 W 116th St.
    • Brooks Hall
    • Hewitt Hall
    • Reid Hall
    • Diana Center
    • Milstein Center
  • Rope access contractors will be anchoring from the roofs of these buildings, and engineers will rappel down from ropes every 60 linear feet at a minimum to inspect each facade. Each building is expected to take up to two days to complete. The sidewalks and a limited distance away from each facade will be cordoned off, and flaggers will be present on campus at the ground level.
  • The inspection teams will be onsite from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The contractors will travel through interior hallways at the beginning and end of each inspection day for roof access. During the initial roof anchoring set up, elevators may be delayed allowing materials to be moved efficiently to the roofs. These inspections should not produce excessive noise.
  • Residents are advised to keep windows closed and blinds drawn during these inspections.

Please note that this update focuses on construction activities that affect the wider college community. For projects smaller in scope, updates are shared directly with the people impacted.

We apologize for any inconvenience and assure you that we are doing our best to mitigate these disruptions. If you experience excessive noise due to construction during regular working hours (Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.) the fastest way to reach us is by email at barnardbuilds@barnard.edu. For concerns outside of this time, please call Barnard CARES at (212) 854-3362 and press #9. If you have any questions at all, please contact barnardbuilds@barnard.edu.

Barnard College’s Office of Capital Projects oversees all construction projects on campus under the Barnard Builds umbrella. Led by the Capital Projects Division, the staff oversees new construction projects, renovations, and major repair and replacement projects for all campus buildings. The Capital Projects team manages outside vendors and consultants, including architects, construction managers or contractors for major construction projects. Email Barnard Builds with questions or concerns.

The projects operate in compliance with health and safety guidelines from the New York City Department of Buildings, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the Department of Transportation. The site logistics and flow of foot and vehicle traffic have been reviewed by the Department of Transportation and changed at the direction of that agency.