Sydney Tran | Head of Design

Over spring break, a portion of Mudd Field has been fenced off and closed for construction; however, the field will not officially close until after the 2025 commencement.

The pathway in front of Simon Hall is currently cordoned off with orange fencing, similar to other areas of campus in front of Graham Chapel and Olin Library. Additionally, part of the field is now paved to form a larger pathway. Per a Jan. 17 news release, the field will not fully close until after commencement. However, it does mention that in March there would be “portions of fencing” around the field.

This comes months after WashU announced the construction of Riney Hall, which will be located west of Olin Library and will be completed in 2028. 

Sydney Tran | Head of Design

Part of the pathway in front of Simon Hall and Mudd Field have also been repaved in addition to the closure.
Sydney Tran | Head of Design

Junior Jesus Iraheta found out about the Mudd Field construction on SideChat. 

“I was pretty blindsided,” Iraheta said. “I … was shocked when I came back to campus [from spring break], I wish [the administration] was more open about this.”

Junior Kaitlyn Hong shared a similar sentiment to Iraheta. She wished the administration actively communicated with students regarding upcoming construction changes. 

“It would be less surprising if [the administration] said something about their motives and goals for the field,” Hong said.

Julie Flory, Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications, told Student Life the construction timeline was always available in the Jan. 17 news release on The Record, WashU’s online news publication. 

“The news release was in the Record, which all students receive,” Flory wrote. “This is generally how we share news with the WashU community.”

Sydney Tran | Head of Design

Despite partial closure, a large portion of Mudd Field remains accessible for students.
Sydney Tran | Head of Design

As it gets warmer, Mudd field will become a central social space for students on campus. Sophomore Jacky Ta is concerned about how these closures will affect the student experience.

“It’s disappointing because academically, WashU is a very stressful place,” Ta said. “[Students] love Mudd Field to sit in, sunbathe, and relax.”

Although Ta understands this closure is part of a larger plan, he feels the current landscape reflects poorly on campus life.

“I understand it’s for construction and I’m happy to hear it is for the sociology and African American studies department,” Ta said. “But, it’s just very disappointing for student life overall.”