Lasell Village 2.0
Expansion project includes new facilities and a historic home restoration

Reprinted with permission from The 1851 Chronicle
By Caitlin Orsino '25

The McGuire Hall expansion project at Lasell Village marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the on-campus independent living community. The expansion, slated for completion by spring 2027, is named in honor of Jean McGuire, the first African American woman to sit on the Boston School Committee and a founder of the METCO program to desegregate Boston-area suburban schools. This is in keeping with the tradition of naming all buildings at Lasell Village after influential educators, according to its website.

The new space, situated across from the Lasell Village Town Hall, will feature 42 independent living apartments, an arts and community center, wellness and fitness spaces, and a new bistro.

“This project has been years in the making and is beginning with significant site work, including the leveling of a hill and the careful relocation of a historic home to make way for this exciting expansion,” said Lasell Village President Zehra Abid-Wood. “It reaffirms Lasell Village’s commitment to lifelong learning, community engagement, and intergenerational connection.”

Rendering courtesy DiMella Shaffer