The school recently moved into the new 6,000-square-foot building called the Chaîne House, which is located near the library. There, it shares residency with Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the world’s premier gourmet society. The society’s national headquarters are based here, and it will host its grand opening in April. FDU’s Institute for Global Business Education also is being housed in the new facility.

Participating in the International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Chaîne House, College at Florham, are, from left, student Jenifer Santangelo, president, Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management Society (Flor); Richard Wisch, director and associate dean, international hospitality/tourism management (Metro/Flor); Kenneth Vehrkens, dean, New College (Metro/Flor); Kenneth Greene, interim provost (Flor); and student Mattia Miradoli (Metro), who served as executive chef of the day.

Complementing the recent construction of Northpointe, the new residence hall on the Metropolitan Campus, the Hackensack River Greenway along the river is being constructed north of the pedestrian bridge. This project involves the replacement of macadam with top soil, grass, trees and benches. A stone dust path will provide a meandering tour alongside the river. A guardrail will separate the path from the parking lot. The new path will stretch from the pedestrian bridge to Route 4, then connect to the pathway behind the bleachers at the athletics fields. Beyond that, the stone dust path will flow into the township of Teaneck’s Andreas Park.

Also on the Metropolitan Campus, the new softball field has taken shape replacing the underutilized east parking lot near the Edward Williams Building. The new field features dugouts, bleachers and outdoor lighting. The project is expected to be done this month.

On the soccer field planning for the installation of artificial turf is well under way. The new turf will be the same type found at the College at Florham’s Shields Field as well as Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The field is projected to be ready in time for the Knights to defend their Northeast Conference championship this fall.

Left photo: Wall to protect the integrity of the Frederick Law Olmsted Cutleaf Maple Grove at the College at Florham is under construction. Right photo: The extension of the Hackensack River Greenway at the Metropolitan Campus is underway.

The Friends of Florham continue to provide funding for projects that preserve the historical integrity of the College at Florham. Not only did they make possible the painting of the Upper Hall of the Mansion, but they have worked devotedly to preserve the Frederick Law Olmsted Cutleaf Maple Grove, which lies just inside the Danforth Road entrance to the campus. Imported from Japan, the trees once referred to by former campus provost James Griffo as “probably the most outstanding ‘forest’ of Japanese cutleaf maples in the world.” Many were concerned that the parking lot to the new residence hall could threaten the grove, but the new lot stops at the edge. Friends of Florham board member Richard Simon has designed and is overseeing construction of a three-section wall to protect the grove and set it apart from the parking lot.

In addition, a major renovation of the bathrooms in the Hamilton Twombly and Florence Twombly residence halls is being undertaken at a cost between $1 and $1.25 million. Two of the bathrooms — one in each hall — are complete, and 11 more will be finished by the fall semester.

At the College at Florham’s new Robert T. Shields Field, some grading and drainage work remain, but the field will be ready for its first full season of use this fall.

March 2004

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Flor =
College at Florham, Madison, N.J.

Metro =
Metropolitan Campus, Teaneck, N.J.

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