Hostel reopens after renovation

The legendary Hostel is set to house high school boys again, thanks to Sanjay Narang '81 and his project team, which included Nabil Sheber '81 and Bhupinder Singh Bhangra '81. Total reconstruction, using the same plinth area and overall layout, was completed in a record time of just ten months. Students are expected to move into Hostel soon after Coming-Up Day and the new and improved dormitory will be dedicated on March 19, 2010.

Woodstock finally received permission to give a major facelift to the Hostel in early 2009, and renovation work began in May. All aspects of this facility were completely upgraded and the accommodation capacity increased by over 50%, while retaining the same overall shape and plinth area. The new swimming pool, donated by Bill Parson '49 and the class of 1949, was enlarged and shifted to the south side of Hostel.

Being forced to use the existing building structure, each set of rooms has been uniquely designed to reflect the character of our Himalayan setting and the warmth of a home vs. a standardized institutional look. To achieve this, wood was used in different ways for panelling on the walls, and the rafters in the ceilings. Most of this wood has been salvaged from the old beds, windows and the wooden roof trusses in the original Hostel building. The new Hostel building has five staff apartments, student lounges on every floor, a new dining hall and common room, and Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the building.

During the renovation process, High School boys were spread out across the Woodstock campus, with 11-12th graders in Ridgewood, 10th graders in Community Centre, and 9th graders in Rokeby. The current plan is to move 10-12 graders into Hostel and shift the Grade 9 boys down to Ridgewood.

The original senior boys' hostel began as a "vision" in the mind of Principal Allen Parker in 1922. At first, the older boys at Woodstock were housed in a dormitory in Tehri View, with adjoining accommodation for the principal's family. In February, 1926, the Hostel, or "Hostie" as it was affectionately called, opened with dormitory space for 60 boys, a swimming pool, an apartment for the principal's family. The Hostel building was later expanded and renovated in three phases between 1926 and 1968.

Woodstock Board members and special guests, including former Hostel Supervisor Ken Saum, will be present at the Hostel dedication ceremony.

Woodstock School is grateful to Sanjay Narang '81 for funding and supervising construction of this major improvement to the school campus.