AUBURN – Carrie Beaulieu loves the old Chamberlain Building.

As Auburn’s gifted and talented program coordinator, she’s had an office in the former school for the last 15 years. She’s come to know its cozy spaces and its dark wood paneling. She enjoys impromptu meetings with colleagues as they gather by the coffee machine.

There won’t be any of that at the new Auburn Hall, where she and more than two dozen other school employees will now keep their offices.

But there is one other enticement.

“I have windows!” Beaulieu exclaimed as she packed one of her last boxes and prepared to leave the Chamberlain Building.

For 36 years, the superintendent’s office has had a place in the old Chamberlain Building on High Street. From 1968 to 1978, it shared the space with elementary school students. After that, the superintendent, business manager and other administrators took over the entire building and converted classrooms into offices.

This year, when the city built a large city hall down the road, the school system reluctantly agreed to move. City employees relocated to Auburn Hall in October. The school system put off its move until schools closed for winter break.

Most school workers started packing boxes in September or October, putting away the few files, books and other things they wouldn’t need until January. Last week, the more frenzied packing began.

On Wednesday, workers pulled clocks from the walls and carefully set aside the student artwork that had decorated the building for decades. They packed the last of their files, taping up boxes while a stereo blared Christmas carols from the receptionist’s desk.

“It’s like it’s really here, and now we need to move,” said Beaulieu, who hadn’t been able to get to sleep the night before.

By mid-morning, her office was cleared of everything but her laptop, a few books and several heavy boxes. She and a handful of co-workers reminisced while they loaded an SUV.

Professional movers were to take the heavy stuff the next day. But Wednesday, Beaulieu and her friends brought their personal items to the new building together.

“We have to go like a unit. We’re a gaggle,” said Elaine Dow, co-director of the office of learning and teaching.

While each department had its own section in Chamberlain, the building was so small that colleagues constantly kept in touch. A trip to the coffee maker often turned into an impromptu meeting with the superintendent. A small discussion sometimes became a large one when everyone within earshot joined in.

At the new Auburn Hall, though, school employees will be spread among four floors. Some worry they will lose that close-knit team they have had for so long.

“There’s only going to be seven of us on my floor,” said Superintendent Barbara Eretzian. “It’s going to seem weird.”

To prevent that, Eretzian vowed Wednesday to check in with everyone on every floor during their first day or two in the new building. Auburn Hall also has more common spaces, including a small library, so school employees hope to find new gathering spots, even if it means a ride on the elevator instead of a few steps down the hall.

As they packed and moved their belongings, many said they would miss the old place.

“There are a lot of happy memories in this building,” Beaulieu said.

But the new Auburn Hall offered buttercup-yellow walls and new furniture. Heating and air conditioning actually worked.

And instead of Chamberlain’s dark wood paneling, every office had a window.

“It’ll be nice to have a plant that will live,” Beaulieu said.