Contacts: Theresa Danylak

(585) 278-6273

Raymond F. LeChase Hall

Fact Sheet

About Raymond F. LeChase Hall:

  • Opened doors January 2013, on the 20th anniversary of the naming of the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education and Human Development.
  • First home dedicated to the Warner School, providing space for all of Warner’s programs, faculty, and staff, and its 600 full- and part-time students.
  • Named in memory of the late Raymond F. LeChase, founder of LeChase Construction Services, a pioneer in the Rochester construction community, a noted philanthropist, and dedicated supporter of education.

Location:

  • Located in the historic Wilson Quadrangle, between Todd Union and Wilson Commons, on River Campus.

Cost/Financing:

  • $23.5 million, financed by private gifts, reserved funds, and loans.

Building Statistics:

  • 65,000 square foot building.
  • Four occupied floors, with the upper three floors unified by a three-story atrium.
  • Suite of 14 classrooms on the first floor that serve the College during the day and the Warner School in the evening.
  • Upper three floors house Warner School programs, including additional specialized classrooms, offices, and spaces specifically designed to support the preparation and development of educators and to conduct educational research and reform work. Some of these spaces include a doctoral student center, a multipurpose event space, methods classroom, student mailroom/lounge, children’s reading room, small meeting rooms, technology and research lab, and lots of open common space.

Leadership Gifts:

  • R. Wayne LeChase and Beverly A. LeChase
  • Herbert R. Miller ’62, ’64W (MA)
  • Sandra A. Parker
  • Estate of William F. Scandling and Margaret Warner Scandling
  • Timothy Wentworth and Robin Wentworth

Accessibility:

  • Meets Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and incorporates many design principles that exceed the standards and allow direct access to the most frequently trafficked classroom area of the building.
  • Includes two sets of primary entrances—the large front staircase, which leads to the second floor Warner atrium, and two sets of double door entrances right below each side of the stair-cased entrance, with gentle slopes on both sides leading into the 14 classrooms and the central elevator leading to the upper floors.
  • Upon entrance into the building, the facility is fully accessible and wheelchair friendly. In addition to handicapped restroom facilities throughout, the building also houses a private “family” restroom on the classroom level. The elevator is located in the middle of the building, with a central staircase wrapping around it, for simple and intuitive navigation of the building. And classrooms, kitchens, offices, and all other spaces are easily accessible by wheelchair.
  • While LeChase Hall is entirely accessible and exceeds ADA requirements, we continue to inspect all aspects of the building for safety and ease of use.By listening to and addressing concerns of students, faculty and staff, we have identified some issues with furniture, lockers, and door pads that are being modified to make these areas more welcoming, safe, and functional for everyone.

Sustainability:

  • Built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver standards, the University’s standard goal, though not LEED certified.
  • Among the plans for LeChase Hall toward sustainable design is the availability of a shower and bike racks for alternative transportation; landscape plantings that do not require irrigation; use of finishes/materials with recycled content; use of rapidly renewable materials; use of natural lighting to light significant portions of the space, and controllability of lighting systems everywhere; and use of water, energy and atmosphere systems that optimize performance and reduce waste.

Architect/Builder:

  • Designed by architectural firm Bergmann Associates of Rochester in collaboration with SHW Group, a Michigan firm with extensive background in designing creative learning environments.
  • Constructed by LeChase Construction Services, LLC.

Fun Facts:

  • First new building constructedon the Wilson Quadrangle in 30 years.
  • LeChase Hall resulted in approximately 460 construction jobs (approximately 260 direct and 200 spillover) for a total of $17.3 million in labor income and almost $1.25 million in sales tax and income tax revenue to the Rochester region and State of New York.
  • Approximately 420 tons of structural steel and nearly 40 tons of miscellaneous metals were used in the construction of LeChase Hall.

About the Warner School of Education

Founded in 1958, the University of Rochester’s Warner School of Education offers master’s and doctoral degree programs in teaching and curriculum, school leadership, higher education, educational policy, counseling, human development, and health professions education. The Warner School of Education offers a new accelerated option for its EdD programs that allows eligible students to earn a doctorate in education in as few as three years part time while holding a professional job in the same field. The Warner School of Education is recognized both regionally and nationally for its tradition of preparing practitioners and researchers to become leaders and agents of change in schools, universities, and community agencies; generating and disseminating research; and actively participating in education reform.

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