Inside Chelsea Square | Weekly Update from Vanderbilt

March 29, 2026

Hi neighbor,

We hope you are well! This update outlines planned construction activity on Vanderbilt’s Chelsea campus from Monday, March 30, through Sunday, April 5.

At a glance: This week’s key community impacts

The 21st Street campus entrance remains closed; access campus via the 20th Street entrance (429 W. 20th St., New York, NY 10011).
A steady grinding noise at moderate levels is expected throughout the week due to brickwork restoration on Seabury.  
Parking on 21st Street and 20th Street remains impacted.
The Chapel is temporarily closed to the public as a safety precaution.
The Close remains impacted by the stormwater infrastructure upgrade and equipment use. A temporary walkway is in place; fencing remains. Soil is being removed from The Close and moved to containers on West 21st Street, with anticipated steady, moderate noise levels from equipment.
A steady hammering noise is expected throughout the week as work on the Seabury roof progresses.
Interior renovation work continues this week with less community impact. The community may notice low to moderate noise levels. The community may also notice increased traffic in the area and visual changes to windows.

No, it’s not a pool

Despite what it looks like, our renovation plans do not include a swimming pool. Sorry! This hole is for the stormwater tank that will help manage rainwater on campus; refill and repair will begin in the next week or so.

We promise, the grass will be greener on the other side.

Pictured: Vanderbilt's Chelsea campus under construction.

More details: Expected construction activity & impacts

In general:

The community can continue to expect ongoing worker presence Monday through Saturday of this week.  
Deliveries/trucks are expected throughout this week; impacts will be similar to those in prior weeks. When necessary, flaggers will direct traffic.  
Parking on 20th and 21st remains impacted.  
Optical monitoring is expected twice a week for the next two months. Workers will be outside and around campus surveying; no cameras or photos will be used.
Temporary staging of construction materials, equipment and storage sheds remains on the lawn areas of The Close and along West 21st Street.
The community may notice some scaffolding being taken down outside of Sherred, Seabury and Dodge; fear not, it will return as good as new after ramp work is complete.

Renovation of the 21st Street campus entrance continues; the 21st Street entrance is closed. Use the 20th Street entrance to access campus.

Noise impact: Moderate noise levels, with work expected to be louder during periodic breaking of concrete.
Spatial impact: The 21st Street campus entrance is closed for the foreseeable future. Community members will use the 20th Street entrance (429 W. 20th St., New York, NY 10011) to access campus. Equipment will be stored in the area.

Seabury brickwork restoration will be active next week.

Noise impact: A steady grinding at a moderate noise level.  
FYI: This maintenance work is part of an ongoing effort to preserve not only the appearance of our historic campus but also support its long-term structural integrity.

Stormwater infrastructure upgrade continues with impacts on The Close. A temporary walkway is in place, fencing remains, equipment is in use and The Chapel is temporarily closed to the public.

Noise impact: Steady moderate noise levels with equipment use.  
Spatial impact: Walkway access is impacted by the fencing needed for the infrastructure installation within The Close. A temporary walkway is in place, with signage marking paths. The Chapel is temporarily closed as a safety precaution. Equipment is being used for soil removal and excavation for the water tank and pipes. Removed soil will be transported to containers on West 21st Street. Maintenance efforts will occur throughout the day, and a final cleanup will take place at the end of each day. However, some mud residue can be expected on the surrounding sidewalk between daytime maintenance cleans. Some traffic congestion on 21st Street can be expected. Work to refill the hole is expected in the next week or so.
FYI: This work allows for the safe installation of stormwater infrastructure, which will help manage rainwater and prevent flooding and erosion on campus.

Abatement work is in progress in Pintard and Kohne.

Noise impact: Moderate noise levels.  
FYI: The construction team will follow all state and federal regulations to ensure asbestos is safely removed with no safety threat to the community. An environmental consultant will manage air monitoring, and a certified environmental vendor will do remediation of hazardous materials. No significant impact on the community is expected this week.

Seabury roof work continues with steady hammering expected this week.

Noise impact: Steady hammering at a moderate noise level.

The contractors’ campus entrance on 20th Street is active. Parking will remain impacted; the ramp at this entrance is in progress.

Noise impact: Moderate noise levels.
Spatial impact: Parking on 20th Street will remain impacted in the coming months.

Interior renovation work continues this week.

Noise impact: Low to moderate noise levels.  
FYI: Crews are working on interior layouts and drywall installation. Dorm rooms are in progress. Aesthetically, the community may notice temporary windows with plywood additions. Replacement windows will be installed later in the renovation process.

Campus events overview

Impacts this week

Coffee & Construction: Thursday, March 26, 9 to 10 a.m.

A small event is planned for Thursday, April 2. The community may notice more foot traffic in the evening than with typical day-to-day operations, with minimal to no disturbances expected.

April 23 ticketed event: Big Quarterly: Untold American history through gospel and dance

Join us for an evening of conversation and musical performances featuring excerpts from "Big Quarterly," an original musical that brings to life an extraordinary and largely untold chapter of American history. Presented by Vanderbilt University–New York City and produced by NYC–based director and choreographer JōvanDansberry, this special event brings to life the extraordinary legacy of Peter Spencer, a man once enslaved who founded the nation’s first wholly independent Black church in 1813. One year later, he established the Big August Quarterly, an annual gathering in Wilmington, Delaware, that still exists today.  

Tickets now on sale

From James Kellerhouse: A note to our community

I recognize that the recent demonstrations caused disruptions for some of our immediate neighbors and greatly appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding. As we excitedly look ahead to welcoming our inaugural class this fall, we remain committed to fair labor practices, safe working conditions and ethical construction standards; we continue to work closely with our prime contractor to ensure these commitments are upheld.

Being a good neighbor is something we take seriously, both at Vanderbilt and for me personally. If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team or to me directly. And if you’re available, I’d love for you to join us at our April community construction meeting, also known as the monthly Coffee & Construction. We’ll share details and the RSVP soon; we’re looking to mix things up a bit with the meeting time (and the beverages).

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. I am so thankful to be part of this community and look forward to what’s to come.

Stay informed

The next construction update will be shared on Sunday, April 5. When necessary, time-sensitive notifications are shared via AnchorAlert to those enrolled.