Campus Construction Highlights

Our campus is in the midst of a transformative period. Our community is laying the groundwork for spaces and infrastructure that will allow us to live into our mission to educate the whole person and steward our resources toward a more sustainable future. 

As you walk the grounds, you’ll see work underway that supports a variety of projects, from  To Zero By Thirty-Five, the College's energy plan and vision for realizing its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035, to the revitalization of facilities across campus. These exciting and necessary projects will have a wide-reaching and long-standing impact on our community. Explore the resources below to learn more about some of the most critical and innovative work happening at Swarthmore.

To Zero By Thirty-Five

To Zero By Thirty-Five is Swarthmore’s bold vision for realizing its goal of carbon neutrality by 2035 by moving the College away from fossil fuel combustion and toward greater use of renewable energy. Our geoexchange system currently powers more than 10 buildings across campus, and for the remainder of 2026 we will continue to work to connect more buildings to the system.

Green Roof

  • Campus Lawns Reopen

    Most of the lawn spaces between Parrish Hall and the SEPTA regional rail station are now open for our community to enjoy. As the lawns are not fully established, the College is not yet be permitting scheduled events, but they are open for passive recreation. The lawn in front of McCabe Library was the last to be sodded and it requires more time to be established, so it will remain roped off for the duration of the Fall 2026 semester. 

    Aerial view of Swarthmore College main lawns

  • Fieldhouse Lane and South Campus

    The area of campus south of the regional rail will continue to have a lot of active construction in Fall 2026, as we connect area buildings to the geoexchange system and complete some Athletics work, including renovations to Ware Pool. Due to construction, some parking spaces in the Tarble Pavilion parking lot will remain closed and some pedestrian traffic around Ware Pool will be restricted.

    Athletics complex, Fieldhouse Lane

Worth Hall & The Lodges

Over the next year, Worth Hall is being renovating in stages, beginning with sections I, J, and K of the building this fall. Work has begun on installing a new HVAC system (including air conditioning) and lighting, and fire alarm systems, as well as making energy efficiency improvements. This work will be completed over winter break, and these sections of the building will reopen at the start of the year. During the Spring 2026 semester and into the summer, construction will focus on sections M,N, and L. 

Worth Hall

East Campus Pathways

The east campus geoexchange piping distribution work and enhanced visitor entrance experience to campus from the Ben West visitor parking lot is near completion, and the area is expected to be fully restored by the conclusion of fall break. 

East campus pathways