Project Info

Williams College Art Museum
Feasibility Study
Williamstown, MA

 

As Williams College considered several locations for a new museum of art building, it sought the experienced advice of Anser to assess the feasibility of a specific site.

Williams College is a private, residential liberal arts college founded in 1793 in Williamstown, a small town in the Berkshires of northwestern Massachusetts. In addition to serving approximately 2,000 undergraduates, it offers graduate programs in the history of art and development economics.

In 2019, the College considered a potential new building for the museum. As it evaluated several possible locations for the new building, the College reached out to Anser for help assessing whether one would fit their needs.

  • Anser conducted a comprehensive feasibility study that examined: Whether the proposed site could accommodate the proposed facility effectively;
  • Whether there were environmental concerns that would need to be addressed before developing the site; and
  • What ‘enabling’ work would need to be completed in order to utilize the site, such as utility relocations, zoning or program relocations

To assist the College’s decision, Anser developed a comprehensive analysis for the College in 90 days. The report evaluated the suitability of the different site configurations as they related to zoning, site acquisition, enabling and site development, constructability, budgetary considerations, and any fatal flaws related to the program and massing studies or geotechnical and environmental issues.