THE FACILITIES Management Department accomplished more than 100 projects this summer. Some were on a major scale, like the renovation of Cilley Hall and the shepherding of the Phelps Science Center to an expected September 2001 completion date. The department also addressed ongoing maintenance work, such as roof repairs, exterior preservation, classroom repairs, utility system improvements, upgrading the library elevator, fire alarm improvements in the Academy Building, utility system improvements, and faculty housing renovation, including the extensive renovation of KEP House and 66-68 Main Street.

Landscaping has also been on the Academy's project list. Last spring, the academic quad, the area bounded by Jeremiah Smith Hall, Phillips Hall, the Academy Building, and Thompson Science, was transformed with the addition of 54 new trees. Most were deciduous canopy trees-Green Mountain sugar maples, sweetgums, and swamp white oaks. Evergreens extended the range of color and shade of the planting, and flowering trees, located along the north side of the Academy Building, brought a freshness to the picture.

Further landscaping of the quad, the resurfacing of sidewalks, and drainage improvements are scheduled for next spring.

"We appreciate the empowerment and resources provided by the administration and trustees that allow us to pursue the wide range of facilities improvements. The accommodation and patience of the Academy community during this hectic and often times disruptive season is also appreciated. We are able to accomplish over 100 significant projects in three to four months because the entire facilities department functions as a team in a continuous improvement environment. My hat is off to each member of our team. Keep up the excellent support of our Academy."

Bell Tower Restored
Poised atop the Academy Building, the bell tower is a powerful symbol of Exeter. In drawings and photographs, the four-storied tower crowns the building majestically; but in recent years, it was better to look at representations of the tower than at the real thing, for the patina had begun to fade.

15 by the Meneely Bell Co. of Troy, NY, was removed from the tower before the work began. Behind shrouding, workmen patiently scraped, washed, primed, and painted the copper finish of the tower. That the tower is copper-clad and painted white to look like wood surprised many people. But not Sean Houlihan, site supervisor for Shawmut Design and Construction, the firm contracted by the Academy to do the restoration work.

"The original architects of the buildings knew what they were doing," he says. "Nothing on the tower itself had to be replaced. The original fabric was there. Had it been built of wood, the tower would have been less expensive at the time, but it wouldn't have lasted as it has."

While the tower itself was restored, the balustrade that surrounds the tower on the roof level is new construction: copper, as in the original, with the traditional white paint finish. The balustrade is composed of hundreds of small fillings fitted together. When they were lifted, in sections, to the top of the Academy Building, it was during the last phase of the restoration work. All was in readiness for the start of a new school year-the refaced clock read the correct time, the bell sang out the hour, and the ship weathervane caught a breeze and turned a full circle.

"If the Academy Building is the heart of Exeter, then the bell tower would be the eternal pulse of Exeter that drives us to class, to work, and to play. It will be the first, last, and most memorable symbol of Exeter for years. For me, it will be a reminder of its valuable pace that has set a strong precedent for the rest of my life."

Cilley Hall Completed
"The Cilley renovation is a $3.6 million project, completed in just 89 days. A crew, averaging 120 people per day, worked from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week, to meet the scheduled move-in date of September 5 for faculty and September 8 for students.

"New plumbing, heating, and electrical systems were installed, as were new windows and a new slate roof; common rooms and laundry rooms were created; an elevator and a kitchen area were added. Each of the bathrooms was completely renovated, and the dorm received paint and new flooring. I feel this dorm will be a model project for future renovations."Academy."