As students were moving in last August, many felt welcomed and impressed by the renovations that had taken place in Bray and Cary Hall. In addition to the painting job and newly installed doors and windows, floor lounges were enlarged and equipped for better use by students.
This summer, beginning on June 13, renovations of Crockett, Hall, and Nason Halls will take place. All three buildings will have the same base structure and the majority of furniture will be replaced. In addition, “this summer we plan on spending more on personal rooms, and not so much on the floor base as we did last year,” said Oliver Holmes, director of Campus Planning and Facilities Design. Based on student input, high beds and room arrangement similar to Barton’s will also be added. Furthermore, each floor will now have two bathrooms and student lounges.
“I think that’s great for incoming students next year who have a possibility of getting to live in those halls, and bad for those who live there now … because then they won’t get to experience either the renovated ones or Barton,” said freshman Sonny Ferre, who lives in Barton.
Crockett is the first of the buildings to be renovated, with new bathrooms and windows to be installed. Moreover, the computer room will be remodeled into a student lounge for laptop use.
“Since all incoming students have laptops now, it is unnecessary to have a computer room,” said Holmes. “Instead the lounge will contain laptop ports, with tables and white boards to facilitate student meetings.”
Hall Hall, on the other hand, was last renovated 12 years ago, but recently had new windows installed. The bathrooms and student lounges will also be remodeled.
Nason, which has never been renovated, will also have new bathrooms and student lounge modifications. This came as both a relief and disappointment to sophomore Katie Newhall who lived in Nason last year. “Finally the ‘ghetto’ dorm is going to be renovated, but I am not sure about the new doors in Bray. Although they are safer, they seem less social to me, which I feel affects the freshman experience.”
This summer’s renovations will cost an estimated $6.5 million, as compared to last year’s $3.2 million for renovating Bray and Carry. “The renovations will take a substantial amount of time and energy, but we will be done in time for next year’s incoming class. We have to be,” said Holmes.
The plan is to have the halls renovated by August 8, just in time for the arrival of resident assistants and leaning assistants. As for the upperclassman dorms, Campus Planning and Facilities Design has plans for Summer 2004 that include renovating Warren and the Commons Dining Hall.
