The construction of 20 Somerset Street for the New England School of Art and Design will help lessen the overall number of classrooms in residential Beacon Hill, according to University officials.
That’s because new classroom space at 20 Somerset for general education uses will allow the removal of classrooms for the Temple/Derne street areas.
“Our guiding principal is to move classrooms away from Temple Street, and every non-art school classroom at Somerset Street will do that." Nucci said that it is important to distinguish between the highly residential Temple Street area, and Upper Beacon Hill where 20 Somerset will be located, which abuts Government Center.
Suffolk plans to axe seven classrooms from the Fenton building and replace those classes with faculty office space, according to a presentation by design consultant Alex Krieger.
To compensate, the new 20 Somerset building will have 11 new classrooms for general education uses for the college of Arts and Sciences. Those will include nine regular classrooms that seat a maximum of 40, one computer classroom that seats 16, and a seminar room with a capacity of 20.
In addition to the general education classrooms, 20 Somerset will have a variety of NESAD-exclusive academic spaces, including 12 art studios, three basement workshops, and a large studio for seniors and art majors.
In all, the University claims that the burden on the Temple/Derne Street area, which the University considers “residential” Beacon Hill, could be reduced between 600 and 1,200 students.
Suffolk plans to file its institutional master plan next week, at which point there will be a 60 day comment period for the public. The IMP includes a number of projects besides 20 Somerset, including the Modern Theater building in Downtown Crossing. Suffolk is trying to increase its academic and residential space as it increases its enrollment to about 5,000.

Team Esplanade gathered at the Hatch Shell on April 15 for a final group meeting before the marathon. As the only official “green” charity chosen by the Boston Athletic Association, runners are raising money to support The Esplanade Association (www.EsplanadeAssociation.org), an active “friends of the park” group working to protect, restore and enhance Boston’s historic Charles River Esplanade since 2001.
Pictured from left to right, back row: Dan Fico, Patrick Hamm, Cheryl Barry, Bryan Irwin, Patrick Fay, Peter Esselstyn, Kevin Uniacke and Melissa LeVangie. Front row: Kevin Quinlan, Ellen Duranceau, Sarah Torkelson, Katie Weber, Deena Behar, and Guadalupe Martinez.

Suffolk University was among the winners of the city's 2008 Green Awards. Boston was recently recognized as the third greenest city in the nation by Popular Science Magazine. The city has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives under Mayor Thomas Menino including the first in the nation green building standards for private and public large building developments; the largest municipal purchaser of green power in New England; clean vehicle and fuel policies for municipal vehicles; and energy efficiencies for city buildings.
The University was presented with its award last week at the Jury's Hotel.
“The breadth of winners is only surpassed by the range of actions you are taking to mitigate climate change,” said Menino. “From renewable energy, to recycling, to green design, you are demonstrating that we can all do our part to make Boston more sustainable.”
The university was among the winners 12 winners in the business category because it demonstrated extraordinary performance related to sustainable environmental, practices, such as water conservation, wastewater management, solid waste reduction, the promotion of alternative transit, energy conservation and on-site renewable energy production, or the purchase of renewable energy.
Suffolk University has shown its commitment to sustainable by increasing recycling from 4 percent to 25 percent. The university is also planning to LEED projects and are reducing the use of toxic products throughout Suffolk--including the classroom from the art studios to the chemistry labs.
Mayor Menino congratulated Suffolk University and the other winners saying, “I hope that other residents and businesses will follow your lead. While climate change is a global problem, we all can take local action to combat its effects. I thank you for your efforts and dedication to improving our city.”

British-born Claire Torpey, who lives on Goodwin Place and owns the hair salon known as Mayfair on the Hill, recently became a U.S. citizen, and her friends threw a party in her honor at her salon. Revelers, from left to right are Becky Wertenberger of Primus Avenue, John Rindlaub of Charles Street, Torpey and Jeanette Nibouar of Garden Street.

Advent School third graders were led by State Rep. Marty Walz on a
State House tour last week, which included a question and answer session with Rep. Walz (lower right). Pictured with the students are teachers Sarah Mulrooney (left) and Anna Bell.

Okay, we are not really on a roll

For the last couple of weeks, we have been talking about trash and cleanup. Not to sound like the Roman Senator who would end every speech ranging from prostitutes to the price of pigs with the phrase, “Carthage must be destroyed,” we want to remind residents about Boston Shines this weekend.
Mayor Thomas Menino’s yearly cleanup of neighborhoods needs local volunteers to be successful. Boston Shines is the way to go.
The weather may not look promising right now, but the weathermen have been wrong before – just remember this winter. But the enthusiasm of the local core of clean-up volunteers will not be fair weather cleaners.
The need to have a cleaner Boston is being heard more and more from all sectors. Just last week, Peter Morrissey addressing the Beacon Hill Business Association told of the need to keep Beacon Hill cleaner. He told business owners not to wait for the city to do things but do them yourself if you can. He mentioned how on his walks that he actually picks up stray pieces of rubbish. Lastly, he mentioned about being aware not to fall into the trap that the present condition of litter is acceptable because it is not as bad as last year.
This is perhaps the greatest piece of advice. Not to accept a low bar of cleanliness but look at other world class cities that we have visited and set our bar to theirs.
Mr. Morrissey’s belief that everyone with a business should be responsible for the direct areas in front of their businesses is absolutely right. And if all of us followed his example, that is, of picking up stray pieces of trash on the sidewalk and placing them in a barrel instead of ignoring the trash, the neighborhood would be a far cleaner place than it is today.
The brooms, the core volunteers, free food, exercise and fun are all provided but we need you. For a good time, what more do you need to come on down?