The Quad is officially being restored. For the past few weeks it has hung under the mysterious shroud of a wooden structure abutting it like the proverbial horse at the gates of Troy. The University issued a statement declaring it was working “out of an abundance of caution,” and a spokesperson informed Honi about the attachment of this “protective structure.”
The doors of the Great Hall have also been removed to be taken away and fixed. The University has called in “restoration specialists” to advise. Chipping away in silent devotion like the nameless toilers at Chartres Cathedral, they seek the “preservation of this landmark.”
We can only hope that the restoration includes fixing the building’s insides. In a recent class in S249, the painting and windows have become riddled with gloomy decrepitude. They are covered by warning tape and hanging by a thread.
If the University fixes this, and adds air conditioning for those sweltering summer days, it would be a salve for the experience of students. The incredible beauty of the building is set against just how uncomfortable the insides are. Internally it sits as a lumbering beast of a place, where it’s always far too warm, and the aesthetic beauty masks the awkward feeling of being in one of those old cars where the aircon is broken and the windows don’t roll down.
The university has not provided a clear end date for the repairs. The same statement detailed how “the restoration works are currently evolving,” and lack a “timeline for completion.” Who knows how long it will take…We should all have to keep our eyes peeled for falling gargoyles.
