Treasured Top of the Hop Revitalized as a Lively Social Hub
Dartmouth’s living room will offer a slate of smaller-scale concerts, performances, and readings.
The Top of the Hop, long a favorite space on the Dartmouth campus to study, unwind, and meet with friends, has received a facelift as part of the expansion and renovation of the Hopkins Center for the Arts and is now ready to host more events than ever.
When the reimagined Hopkins Center formally opens its doors in mid-October, the Top of the Hop will roll out a calendar of events. With its improved acoustics and lighting, the space will become a busier venue for activities such as improv performances, readings, small concerts, pre- and post-show conversations with artists, and film screenings.
The rejuvenated Top of the Hop will feature several striking touches, many of them evoking its earliest days; the hardwood flooring has been refinished, the wood-burning fireplace has been upgraded, the original Steinway has been restored, and the exterior terrace will be available for students, faculty, staff, and guests for the first time in years. The central staircase is gone, a change that will provide more floor space in the Top of the Hop and reduce outside noise. The Top of the Hop will also offer new amenities, such as a bar, more comfortable furniture, and dozens of outlets to charge the ubiquitous electronic devices students use today.
Anne Blackburn ’91, a member of the Hopkins Center Board of Advisors, and Jeff Blackburn ’91, a trustee emeritus, made the lead gift to renovate the beloved space, famed for its spectacular view of Baker Library and the Green, framed by the arches designed by Wallace Harrison more than 60 years ago. The Blackburns’ gift includes funding for programming activities in the Top of the Hop.
“Both Jeff and I have fond memories of studying and relaxing in the Top of the Hop. It’s one of the best views on campus, and its scale is almost cathedral-like,” says Anne Blackburn. “My favorite Hop memories are attending live plays and indie movies—proud member of the Film Society!—running into friends at the Hinman Boxes and getting cozy with a book in the Top of the Hop. Specifically, I think of snowy winter days with all that natural light pouring in through the windows. Often a student would begin playing the piano. It was a magical place to relax and study.”
She adds, “We think the Hop is not only a home for the arts but also an important student center, where there can be lots of spontaneous socializing. The Top of the Hop is an ideal space to fill both those roles. With its makeover and all the new programming, I think it will be much more of a destination on campus.”
Mary Lou Aleskie, the Howard Gilman ’44 Executive Director of the Hopkins Center, says while the Top of the Hop has been popular with generations of Dartmouth students, it has seen less traffic in recent years.
“Not too long after I arrived on campus, as we started to develop our vision for the future Hop, I remember sitting in the old Top of the Hop with Anne, looking around, and noticing that we were the only people there,” Aleskie says. “Students need spaces that are welcoming, comfortable, and inspiring where they study, meet friends, and do things together. Anne and Jeff have come forward to make sure this is a special place where students can be comfortable. We deeply appreciate their love for the Top of the Hop.”
The renewed Top of Hop will be a much more inviting place for members of the Dartmouth community to meet, she says. Coffee and tea will be available mornings and afternoons multiple days of the week, and evenings will feature beer, wine, and mocktails.
“The Hopkins Center is not just an arts center or just an academic center. It’s truly the heart and soul of the campus—a social center for our campus and even the Upper Valley. And the Top of the Hop is almost like a living room with a great view for all of us,” Aleskie says.
“The fireplace in the Top of the Hop is both a feature of the space and a metaphor for what will take place there,” says Colleen Boggs, associate dean for the arts and humanities and the Parents Distinguished Research Professor in the Humanities. “Since prehistoric times, the fireside has been a place for storytelling and performing. It has been a source of warmth, providing shelter and creating a space for community members to exchange ideas. It will offer an ideal nexus for creative expression, academic inquiry, and civic engagement.”
The Hop has been a lively arts center and hub of campus activity since its dedication in 1962, and the building’s first top-to-bottom renovation is nearly complete. The $123.8 million expansion and renewal features the Daryl and Steven Roth Wing, which houses a stunning recital hall, a versatile theater, and the Hopkins Center’s first-ever dedicated dance studio.
The new Hop, developed by the transdisciplinary design firm Snøhetta, will make the arts central to the Dartmouth experience, inviting all students to explore artistic opportunities.
“In reimagining the Hop’s building and surroundings, Snøhetta has embraced the historic arches of Wallace Harrison’s elegant design and cherished communal spaces, while introducing new forms and materials, housing lively spaces that welcome artists, audiences, and students alike,” says Craig Dykers, a Snøhetta founding partner architect. “From the sculpted plaza to the lantern-like recital hall, the refreshed Hop invites intuitive movement, interaction, and creative discovery in every corner.”
The multi-year renovation of the Hop and introduction of the Roth Wing springboards a new future for Dartmouth arts and the campus Arts District, which includes the expanded Hood Museum of Art, the Black Family Visual Arts Center, and the Maffei Arts Plaza.
“I’m really excited about the entire Arts District, front and center on campus—it’s such a visible commitment. That obvious support makes students comfortable exploring the arts and trying out new things,” says Blackburn. “The arts also bring students together to share an experience. I think that helps people connect, and they end up being more open and inclusive.”
The Dartmouth community will celebrate the Hop and Arts District October 16–19 with an extended weekend featuring a dynamic mix of events.
As part of the Top of the Hop’s renovation, the Blackburns chose to have a famous J.R.R. Tolkien quote—“Not all those who wander are lost”—placed in the space.
“We chose this quote because Dartmouth people are wanderers who explore the world and gain so much from that,” says Blackburn. “It also refers to letting the mind wander. Hopefully, this will be a place where students can unplug and just think, letting their minds explore.”