UPDATE: 921, 899, and 855 Buildings Reopen
STATUS: 921, 899, and 855 BUILDINGS REOPEN TODAY
The 899 and 855 buildings are open, and classes resume at 2 p.m. in the 921 building. Cafe 939 and the Red Room reopen tomorrow. NOTE: Updated information about office locations is below the president's letter.
Message from the President: Boston's Back Bay Reopens
April 24, 2013
Dear Berklee Community,
As of 3:00 this morning, the City of Boston has released the buildings in the cordoned investigative area to their owners, including Berklee. I’m very glad to tell you that we are now in the process of making certain all of our four buildings along Boylston Street—939, 921, 899, and 855—are ready to open.
There are some maintenance issues that are in the process of being addressed, and this will take time. For those of us in the affected buildings, it will be a day of transition, and I know we will move through that as quickly as we can.
As of 6:30 this morning, 855 Boylston is open, and ready for occupancy, without restrictions.
Please be advised that 899 Boylston is open, but there are some slight odors emanating from the market downstairs. If you work in 899 and have sensitivities in this regard, please be in touch with your supervisor regarding work arrangements. If you will require temporary workspace, please contact Steven Riggs at extension 2202.
921 Boylston Street, the Student Activities Center, and the Counseling and Advising Center are open.
Cafe 939 and the Red Room remain closed, but after passing today's board of health inspection, the restaurant and venue will reopen Thursday morning, April 25.
I know we are all anxious to get back to teaching and learning in the affected buildings. After broad discussion this morning, classes will begin at 921 Boylston Street at 2:00 p.m. today, on a Wednesday schedule.
Thank you all for your patience and flexibility during this time. It will be great to have everyone at Berklee in place, and together again.
Sincerely,
Roger H. Brown
President, Berklee College of Music
UPDATED INFORMATION ON TEMPORARY OFFICE LOCATIONS AS OF NOON ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2013
With Berklee buildings reopened, most Berklee offices have returned to their normal locations. Student advising offices are continuing to operate from satellite locations:
Academic Advising – Domestic
186 Massachusetts Avenue, level 2
Academic Advising – International
22 Fenway, room 212
Counseling and Advising Center
155 Massachusetts Avenue, room 302 and 7 Haviland Street, rooms 118 and 211
Ear Training offices are open at 899 Boylston Street (although some faculty are moving office hours to other locations). Student Activities (accessible from 921 Boylston) has reopened in its normal location and will be open tonight until 10:30 p.m.
All other relocated administrative offices have returned to their permanent locations at 921 and 855 Boylston Street.
Updated Temporary Office Relocations
April 23, 2013
Dear Berklee Community,
On Wednesday we will again be without the use of the 939, 921, 899, and 855 Boylston Street buildings, because the City of Boston is thoroughly checking all buildings in the affected area, prior to releasing them to their owners.
Those administrators and faculty who have a truly critical need to visit their spaces in these four buildings during the day on Wednesday will need to ask their dean or vice president, who would send their request to the director of public safety, Roy Murphy, who will work with them.
By order of the city, students may not go into these buildings until they have been cleared for occupancy.
Updated temporary locations for some departments and offices will continue as outlined at berklee.edu/closings. If a department is not listed there, or if you are having difficulty reaching someone by telephone, please call Training and Support at extension 2238, and they may be able to assist you.
The deans continue to work closely with their chairs to accommodate faculty office hours and student tutor sessions in other Berklee buildings. As we have said, please postpone, teleconference, or reschedule meetings to off-site locations, because there is a premium on meeting rooms, both for instruction and displaced staff.
Thank you again for your patience and willingness to be flexible.
Sincerely,
Roger H. Brown
President, Berklee College of Music
Community Update: Temporary Office Locations
April 22, 2013
Dear Berklee Community,
Welcome back! We’ve all had a challenging week. For those of us able to gather today in the BPC, we had a chance to reflect on the sadness and the turmoil of the week’s events while affirming our commitment to one another and our work together. Of course, the music was excellent, beginning with Christiane Karam’s Balkan Vocal Ensemble and ending with “Let the Sunshine In” from the upcoming student production of Hair.
Unfortunately, we will be without our 939, 921, 899, and 855 Boylston Street buildings again on Tuesday. While the FBI is wrapping up its investigative phase, the city of Boston will now follow on, taking precautions to make certain that the area is absolutely clear of debris and any possibly toxic substances, before returning it to the citizenry.
So that the work of the college can continue while we wait for our buildings to be returned to us, we’ll need to relocate some academic departments, student services, and administrators. I want to thank the team that has figured out this puzzle—not an easy thing to do. Below are the temporary locations for many offices and departments that normally live in our Boylston Street buildings.
Counseling and Advising Center
155 Massachusetts Avenue, room 302 and 7 Haviland Street, rooms 118 and 211
Academic Advising – Domestic
186 Massachusetts Avenue, level 2
Academic Advising – International
22 Fenway, room 212
Ear Training
7 Haviland Street, room 334
Diversity and Inclusion
150 Massachusetts Avenue, room 188
Human Resources
150 Massachusetts Avenue, room 106 (accessible through glass doors within the Media Center lobby)
Financial Aid
186 Massachusetts Avenue, level 2, room 206
City Music Boston
186 Massachusetts Avenue, level B
Accounts Payable
off-site (available by email)
Bursar
186 Massachusetts Avenue, level 2
Payroll
186 Massachusetts Avenue, level 2
Finance
7 Haviland Street, room 108
Administration and Finance
1096 Boylston Street, level 2
Facility Planning
161 Massachusetts Avenue, room 301
Mail for displaced departments will be held at the Mail Center on level B of 1108 Boylston Street. Individuals may pick up their mail with the presentation of a valid Berklee ID card.
Some offices do not have a home at the moment, and every effort is being made to secure locations for those individuals. If a department is not listed here, or if you are having difficulty reaching someone by telephone, please call Training and Support at extension 2238, and they may be able to assist you.
In addition, the deans are cooperating and working closely with their chairs to accommodate faculty office hours and student tutor sessions in other Berklee buildings. If you’re organizing a meeting, we are encouraging you to postpone, teleconference, or reschedule meetings to off-site locations, because we really need meeting rooms both for instruction and displaced staff.
I am going to ask in advance for your patience as we try to run the college with several buildings still closed for an uncertain period of time. We’re known for improvisation; now is the time to embrace that expertise.
Today we heard many wise thoughts from students, staff, and faculty gathered at our event: to turn “bombs into balm,” to be sure we support one another in the aftermath of this traumatic event, to embrace our role as musical alchemists who can take in pain and create beauty. I have no doubt we will fulfill these duties with great skill.
Sincerely,
Roger H. Brown
President, Berklee College of Music
Community Update from the Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost
April 21, 2013
Thank you for your patience and forbearance over the past week, under deeply disturbing and unprecedented circumstances.
It is, at last, time to reopen the college. We will do so at 8:00 a.m. Monday and conduct classes and college business in all the buildings that we are able to open. The 130–150 Massachusetts Avenue complex, 1140 Boylston, 22 The Fenway, 7 Haviland, St. Cecilia’s, 100 Mass Ave., 25 Fordham Road, and the Boston Architectural College, will all be open, and classes conducted on a Monday schedule. The Dalton Street and Christian Science Garages will be open for those of you who use these parking facilities.
Please note that classes and college business in the 921, 939, 899, and 855 Boylston facilities will not be conducted Monday because, despite our hopes to the contrary, these buildings remain inside the FBI investigative cordon. These buildings will not be open for any reason on Monday.
Be aware that some faculty teaching on Monday will not be able to access their offices since they are located inside the investigative zone, so we ask them to be prepared for class Monday as best as possible. Everyone—students, faculty, and staff—must have their Berklee ID for building access.
On Monday at 12:30 p.m., we will hold a community-wide event for students, faculty, and staff in the Berklee Performance Center to reflect on the Marathon bombing and its aftermath. We will gather to support one another and honor both those who have lost their lives or been injured, and those who have helped to ease the suffering caused by this senseless act of violence. Please note that admission to this event will be by Berklee ID only.
Sincerely,
Lawrence J. Simpson
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost
Berklee College of Music
NOTE: There have been several stories of student bravery and generosity in helping others through the crisis. One example is that of Callie Benjamin, a songwriting student who responded immediately to help victims of the blast. We look forward to hearing more about the contributions of our students, faculty, and staff. If you'd like to add yours, please go to Berklee Blogs.
Read prior messages from the Berklee administration in our news section.