Hamilton College alumnus and Charter Trustee Stephen Sadove '73 and his wife Karin have committed $4 million to renovate the College's Emerson Literary Society building (ELS). Built in 1928, ELS, also known as Emerson Hall, has recently served as a campus meeting space. The Sadoves' gift will enable the College to create and renew space for expanded collaboration among all student groups with the goal of making the facility a hub for student activities on campus.
"The transformation of ELS will enhance Hamilton's already strong sense of community, offering students increased options for casual and informal events," said President Joan Hinde Stewart. "I am profoundly grateful to Steve and Karin for their generous gift and for their dedication to this project."
A parent of Hamilton alumna Stacy '07 and current Hamilton sophomore David, Sadove is the chairman and chief executive officer Saks Incorporated. In talking about the motivation for this gift, he said, "I want to see the college continue to flourish, and I see this building not only as a place for students to get together but also a place in which to celebrate diversity, a building that reflects the diverse interests of the college – a place that champions inclusion. I have seen the college evolve, and I feel terrific about the direction it has taken, watching how it has advanced as a premier liberal arts institution.
"If this gift raises the sights of other potential donors, that's great. I thought hard about the timing of this gift in these difficult economic times and decided that it was the right thing to do at the right time. If it sets an example in terms of other donors reaching, stretching – great!"
Architectural drawings for the building are slated to be completed this summer, and construction will begin in 2009 with completion scheduled for 2010. Preliminary plans call for the ground floor to house the College Store, large meeting rooms and a lounge. The second floor will offer space for student media including the Spectator and WHCL and the office for the student activities staff. The third floor will provide collaborative workspaces for students, filing space for club and organization records, and meeting spaces. The basement will continue to feature a social space that can be reserved for student events.
"ELS is a great place now, but we hope it will become an even more accessible, comfortable place where all students, faculty members and College employees can go to grab a cup of coffee, put their feet up and hang out together – a space they won't want to leave," said Dean of Students Nancy Thompson. "We envision it as the College's family room. ELS is an ideal, central spot, adjacent to Martin's Way, close to the Mail Center and complementary to Beinecke Village."
Sadove agrees, "I think ELS is a beautiful building in a wonderful location, and the college needs a real student center – a place for students to congregate."
After graduating from Hamilton College, Sadove earned an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Saks in January 2002, Sadove had a distinguished marketing and consumer products career spanning more than 25 years. He joined the Saks Incorporated management team in January 2002 as vice-chairman, then assumed the additional role of chief operating officer in March 2004 and was named CEO in January 2006.
The Emerson Literary Society, the original occupant of ELS, is the only non-Greek society on campus. Established in 1882, the society brings interesting and unique speakers to the Hill, plans social events and raises funds for numerous charities. The organization was named in honor of author and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.
"The transformation of ELS will enhance Hamilton's already strong sense of community, offering students increased options for casual and informal events," said President Joan Hinde Stewart. "I am profoundly grateful to Steve and Karin for their generous gift and for their dedication to this project."
A parent of Hamilton alumna Stacy '07 and current Hamilton sophomore David, Sadove is the chairman and chief executive officer Saks Incorporated. In talking about the motivation for this gift, he said, "I want to see the college continue to flourish, and I see this building not only as a place for students to get together but also a place in which to celebrate diversity, a building that reflects the diverse interests of the college – a place that champions inclusion. I have seen the college evolve, and I feel terrific about the direction it has taken, watching how it has advanced as a premier liberal arts institution.
"If this gift raises the sights of other potential donors, that's great. I thought hard about the timing of this gift in these difficult economic times and decided that it was the right thing to do at the right time. If it sets an example in terms of other donors reaching, stretching – great!"
Architectural drawings for the building are slated to be completed this summer, and construction will begin in 2009 with completion scheduled for 2010. Preliminary plans call for the ground floor to house the College Store, large meeting rooms and a lounge. The second floor will offer space for student media including the Spectator and WHCL and the office for the student activities staff. The third floor will provide collaborative workspaces for students, filing space for club and organization records, and meeting spaces. The basement will continue to feature a social space that can be reserved for student events.
"ELS is a great place now, but we hope it will become an even more accessible, comfortable place where all students, faculty members and College employees can go to grab a cup of coffee, put their feet up and hang out together – a space they won't want to leave," said Dean of Students Nancy Thompson. "We envision it as the College's family room. ELS is an ideal, central spot, adjacent to Martin's Way, close to the Mail Center and complementary to Beinecke Village."
Sadove agrees, "I think ELS is a beautiful building in a wonderful location, and the college needs a real student center – a place for students to congregate."
After graduating from Hamilton College, Sadove earned an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Saks in January 2002, Sadove had a distinguished marketing and consumer products career spanning more than 25 years. He joined the Saks Incorporated management team in January 2002 as vice-chairman, then assumed the additional role of chief operating officer in March 2004 and was named CEO in January 2006.
The Emerson Literary Society, the original occupant of ELS, is the only non-Greek society on campus. Established in 1882, the society brings interesting and unique speakers to the Hill, plans social events and raises funds for numerous charities. The organization was named in honor of author and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.
