The Ruth Leff Siegel Center | Sarah Lawrence College

Photography © Halkin Mason Photography LLC

The Siegel Center, originally built in 1916 as a cottage for founder William Van Duzer Lawrence’s head gardener, has evolved with Sarah Lawrence College’s growth. Over the years, it has served as a Faculty House, campus infirmary, and later the beloved student gathering spot known as Charlie’s Place. Following multiple renovations, the building was dedicated as the Ruth Leff Siegel Center in 1998, solidifying its role as a centerpiece of campus life.

As the structural engineer, Keast & Hood helped bring the vision for the Siegel Center renovation to life, developing solutions that balanced design function and constructability. We assessed the existing conditions within the former bookstore space in the Siegel Center, as well as areas of the Performing Arts Center (PAC) and Bates Hall, to be vacated as part of the relocation to the new facility. The project began with the development of programming concepts for spaces within Bates Hall and the Performing Arts Center, followed by Phase B renovations to the Siegel Center.

This renovation transforms the Siegel Center into a more prominent community space that improves the student experience on campus. By uniting dining, lounge, and multipurpose areas under one roof, the facility strengthens the sense of community and provides flexible spaces for students to meet, relax, and engage throughout the day.