Vassar begins construction of $27.5M Admission and Career Education Center

Work is underway on The Dede Thompson Bartlett Center for Admission and Career Education at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie. The $27.5 million building will house expanded offices for college admissions as well as providing a place for students to learn about and work on executing the transition from college to the working world. The new building was designed by Maryann Thompson whose architectural firm is based in Watertown, Massachusetts.

Vassar alumnus Dede Thompson Bartlett made a $10 million donation toward the cost of the building and at a groundbreaking ceremony called the new center a dream come true.

“This center will house a dynamic career education program that will give our students the skills to meet the existential challenges of the coming decades,” Bartlett said.

The shovel that was used during the groundbreaking by Vassar President Elizabeth H. Bradley was the actual shovel used in 1861 by college founder Matthew Vassar when ground was broken for the main building on the college campus.

The new building is designed to be energy efficient and not rely on fossil fuels. It has been oriented to allow maximum use of the sun for heating during colder weather. There will be solar panels to generate electricity, extensive insulation to eliminate the need for large heating and cooling systems, triple-pane windows and LED lighting with sensors that turn off the lights when there’s no activity in a room.

The new building is expected to be opened late in the fall of next year.