On Sept. 25, Smith College celebrated the opening of Kathleen McCartney Hall (KMH) with a party that drew students, staff and boba lovers. The event featured nachos, tote bags, terrarium building, orchestral music and opportunities to explore the new spaces, as well as meet the people who work in them. Still, the star attraction was free boba, with long lines snaking through the lobby for the duration of the afternoon.
Named after former college president Kathleen McCartney, KMH is now home to the Lazarus Center for Career Development and the Wurtele Center for Leadership. The building was designed by the female-owned architecture studio TenBerke and funded primarily through the college’s capital funds and a leading gift from Margaret Wurtele ’67. Overlooking Paradise Pond, the building’s location and design sparked conversation long before construction finished, and student reactions at its opening suggest debates about its campus role are far from over.
For some students, like Salma Baksh ‘28, KMH is a welcome addition. “It smells new, it looks cool, I love all of the windows, and it has a really incredible view,” they said. She added that while the online discourse leading up to the opening was often negative, “now that it’s here it feels less weird.”
Others echoed the excitement. “I like that there’s a lot of natural light and I like that it’s near the quad because I live in the quad,” said Liliana Katz-Hollander ‘29. She also noted the building’s environmental features, adding, “I think it shows that we actually care about the environment and we’re not just pretending to.”
Staff at the Lazarus Center and Wurtele Center said the new space will transform the way that they work with students. Kat Morelli, communications coordinator of Lazarus, explained that the building” is fulfilling a lot of needs for us … and students. We have a lot of space so that all of our programming can be in one section because before it was really spread out. It’s also a lot more accessible now and more centrally located on campus.”
Erin Cohn, director of the Wurtele Center, described the move as a major shift from their former location. “We used to be at 146 Elm Street, which was like a tiny Victorian house. No one knew where it was,” she said. “Now having a space that is sort of central is going to be a big difference for us.”
The building is intended to foster collaboration not only between the two centers but also with the student body as a whole. “I’m so excited about these new community spaces,” said Megan Lister, Assistant Director of the Wurtele Center. “It’s a place where we want to encourage people to be creative and messy and … make awesome things.”
Silas McClung, Co-Curricular Leadership Coordinator of the Wurtele Center, echoed this sentiment, saying “I hope this space really models what it means to collaborate, both between our two centers and with how we see the future of leadership, which is more collaborative, more friendly and more open to all.”
Not every student was impressed. A junior, speaking anonymously, criticized both the construction process and the building’s aesthetics, mirroring discussions on the Smith Confessional (Confesh), an anonymous online forum for Smith students.
“I think it was a stupid promise broken for people to talk about adding no more buildings to campus,” the student said. “If they were going to put resources into a building, it should have been more housing. I think it’s ugly. I think it blocks the view of the [Campus Center] and I’m not a fan. However, it’s kind of nice at night, with the light.”
Critiques like this highlight the tension between enthusiasm for new resources and concerns about housing shortages and campus planning.
Beyond aesthetics, administrators emphasized KMH’s role in advancing Smith’s climate commitments. Beth Hooker, senior director of CEEDS, explained that the building was designed to meet LEED Gold certification standards, incorporating geothermal heating and cooling, responsibly sourced mass timber and a living roof.
“Smith has a commitment to address climate change directly by reducing our emissions right here on campus,” she said. “The geothermal energy project will reduce on-campus emissions by nearly 80% and McCartney Hall will be on that system once the central district is complete.”
The building also provides students with opportunities to help shape its identity. Julia Emiliani, the artist leading the project, is planning a large mural that will wrap around the central stairwell.
“We want the artwork to feel authentic and reflective of the Smith College experience, the community and as colorful as we can make it,” Emiliani explained. Two student interns, Ruby Goldstein ‘27 and Eloise Van Meter ‘26, are contributing to the design process and ensuring that the final piece reflects student voices. Students can share their ideas via posters around campus, each with a QR code linking to a google form.
For Dean of Career Development Faith McClellan, the opening represents the beginnings of a new chapter. “My first impression is one of excitement and possibility,” she said. “We want students to drive our legacy and our impact on campus culture.” She emphasized that students will determine how the building is used and remembered.
Whether viewed as a polished hub for leadership and career development or as an unwelcome addition, Kathleen McCartney Hall has already become impossible to ignore. At the opening celebration, McClung extended an invitation to all. “Come visit. This is a building we want students to feel comfortable and welcome in,” he said. “Free snacks. No lines.”
