Written by Dara Kagan
The Campus Center is really the only public space to hang out on campus, and since opening in the fall of 2003, it has become the hub of the Smith community. The Brown Fine Arts Center also opened in 2003 and boasts an amazing collection of ever-changing exhibits. It is one of the nation’s foremost teaching collections, with originals by artists Chuck Close, Picasso, Rodin, and countless others. Smith's greenhouse, Lyman Conservatory, hosts the annual Fall Chrysanthemum and Spring Bulb shows and is a beautiful space to escape the winter New England chill.
The Olin Fitness Center is equipped with weight and cardio machines, and there are also stables and equestrian fields, a climbing wall, pool, squash courts, and a boathouse with kayaks and canoes that students can take out on Paradise Pond. Despite the fact that some buildings on campus are more than 100 years old, the College works hard to keep its buildings and facilities clean and up-to-date, and students never complain that the facilities are poorly maintained. Overall, with the constant upkeep of existing facilities and the development of new projects, including Ford Hall, a $73 million, 140,000-square-foot science and engineering facility that opened in 2009, Smith ensures that its students learn and live with the best amenities possible.