Tiffany Zhu

New speed bumps and crosswalks mark the loading zones. They were installed in response to safety concerns around speeding in the parking lots.

Administration facilitated a number of renovations at the upper school campus, with improvements like new benches, speed bumps, lights and flooring in the Auxiliary Gym, greenery in the quad and updates to the Shah patio over the summer. 

Operations Manager Sarah Wollbrink worked with Head of Upper School Paul Barsky to provide many wooden benches around campus, built using the excess wood from Shah Patio renovations. 

“With the Shah deck, we had some extra wood left over, so we built some new benches that are in the orchard to expand seating,” Wollbrinck said. “[The renovations] like the grass, the quad and the benches, it’s just gonna encourage people to hang out a little bit more and appreciate the grounds here.” 

In the parking lot, safety concerns about speeding prompted the construction of new speed bumps. The electric vehicle chargers also saw significant upgrades.

“[The EV chargers] are 50% faster than they were before, and there’s a new system in place that’s going to let them work with the company,” Wollbrinck said. “During high usage times, footprints are going to be smaller because they can distribute the power. It’s a big upgrade from the old chargers.”

Wollbrinck noted that the facilities team annually seeks out areas of campus that can be improved.

“Every fall we have a beautification walk, and we point out things that could be updated or improved upon,” Wollbrinck said. “We build a list that we can start in the summer, as when the students aren’t around, there’s a little less impact than during the school year.”

Junior Ava Alvarez also reflects on her thoughts regarding the new furnishing and notes that she thinks they improve the overall campus.

“I like that there’s more options for seating,” Ava said. “It makes our campus more beautiful and more calming, almost a break from school.”

Many campus initiatives, like the improvements to the Shah Hall deck, are too expensive to install with only tuition money. 

“There’s no way we would have ever been able to build all of this programming and all these facilities and get the gene sequencer, the virtual cadaver, the beautiful theater and the sports fields if it wasn’t for the generosity of the parents and alumni,” Rosenthal said. “It’s really a gift to the students.”

Head of School Brian Yager feels the implicit message demonstrates that the school takes care of the campus and community.

“The physical changes reflect safety and healthy natures, but it also improves look, feel and usefulness, too” Yager said. “The benches might not be themselves pretty, but they’re useful, and they provide space for people like Mr. Barsky said, to reflect.”

Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives Joe Rosenthal highlighted that students play a part in deciding what gets improved upon within the campus. 

“We’re always interested in feedback,” Rosenthal said. “As a matter of fact, a lot of what we did was based on the student survey that was taken in the middle of the year last year, and one of the major points of the student survey was more comfortable seating.”

The renovations are part of Harker’s ongoing effort to improve the school environment through a strategic plan renewed every five years.  

“We want to make our environment as inspiring and the student experience as enjoyable as possible,” Rosenthal said. “Having extra spaces for you to sit down and collaborate with one another enhances the experience.” 

Yager further notes how the beautification and maintenance of the campus was achieved largely through the maintenance team.

“What you see reflects the dedication of the grounds crew,” Yager said. “Every morning, they take ownership of the spaces to be well taken care of, to be pretty and safe and to get better all the time. Those spaces reflect their own pride in their work. That makes me feel good.”