The scaffolding on McGraw Tower will be removed by August 15 according to University administration.
While administration had previously stated that McGraw tower would be construction free before the Class of 2025’s commencement date, it retracted that statement and cited weather conditions as the reason for the delay.
The construction on McGraw Tower is a part of the Uris Library and McGraw Tower Envelope Renewal project that will help “prevent deterioration” of the two iconic campus structures according to the Cornell University Library Space Projects website. The construction on the tower started in July 2023 and was expected to be completed by last November.
In a statement to The Sun, Andrew Magre, associate vice president of engineering and project administration, said that the “project completion remains at 90%.” In a May 2025 construction progress update, the website states that the project is “approximately 98% complete.”
The website also states that the scaffolding removal process is “anticipated to be complete by the end of June.” In his statement to The Sun, Magre said that the project team has worked with the contractor to “complete all remaining work by August 15” and that the date is subject to change depending on “rain delays.”
While issues with inclement weather were cited as the main reason for the delay in the project, Magre also explained that the seven-month delay in the project has been “hindered” over the past nine months because the University has relied on “a sole speciality firm based outside the U.S. to provide the “specialized craftsmanship” necessary to preserve the lead roof.
“The complex lead roof design demands specialized craftsmanship and must be executed flawlessly, as future access will be extremely limited once scaffolding is removed,” Magre said.
Zeinab Faraj is the assistant sports editor on the 143rd editorial board and a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
