Just in time for the beginning of next school year, Lewis Hall and the Mayer Campus Center will receive brand−new looks.
Following next month's Commencement activities, the Department of Facilities Services will begin summer−long renovations of all bathrooms and common areas in Lewis Hall and the refurbishing of the campus center's interior.
The two projects will cost the university a combined $2.5 million, according to Director of Facilities Services Bob Burns.
Facilities plans to install an air conditioning system throughout the campus center, according to Senior Construction Manager Ray Santangelo, who is managing both projects. Air conditioning is currently limited to Hotung Café.
This installation will require removing the existing ceilings throughout the building, Director of the Office for Campus Life (OCL) Joe Golia said. He added that a large pendant light fixture in the lobby will serve as the final touch to the area's revamp.
More striking aspects of the renovations include painting the interior, adding new carpeting and replacing all ceilings and lighting, according to Santangelo. These updates will take place in the parts of the campus center that were not incorporated into the recent renovations of the lobby, The Rez and Hotung Café.
"This is another phase of what we've already done," Santangelo, who has overseen previous campus center transformations, said. "We're trying to bring the other areas up to the same level as The Rez ... Hotung and the lobby."
The work in Lewis Hall will consist of a total gut renovation of all the bathrooms, common areas and hallways, according to Santangelo. Changes will include new carpeting and wall paint, he said.
Facilities plans to replace some of the lighting in the common areas and fix up the reception area with new furniture and finishing, Santangelo said. Every dorm room will receive new dressers and fresh wall paint, he added.
Burns said Lewis Hall residents will not immediately notice some of the major updates in their building.
"We'll be replacing all of the infrastructure, the piping in the bathrooms," Santangelo said. "It's absolutely necessary in the bathrooms."
The work, although relatively easy to complete, will mark a significant improvement, according to Santangelo. "It's not a huge project, but it's going to make a huge impact," he said.
Lewis Hall's renovation is part of Facilities' goal of refurbishing and upgrading the interior of at least one residential hall each year, Burns said. Last year, Facilities renovated West and Hill Hall bathrooms and common areas, while remodeling in summer 2009 focused on Carmichael Hall, Santangelo said.
"Students have given us feedback in the past regarding the conditions of the bathrooms, common areas," Director of the Office of Residential Life and Learning Yolanda King said. "I've been told that perception−wise, for students, Lewis is the least desirable building. This will be a tremendous improvement, and I think it will change students' perception of the building."
Burns hopes this summer's changes will make Lewis Hall and the campus center more student−friendly. "We try to freshen it up to make it more appealing and modernized," he said.
Past improvements to the campus center's interior have garnered positive feedback from the student body, Santangelo said. His intention is that by next semester the building interior will be unified in the contemporary design and color scheme established in the three completed rooms.
Golia said he hopes that additional improvements will be possible even after this summer's project is completed.
"Unfortunately, this [project] will not include new furniture in the meeting rooms," Golia said. "In the future, that will be the next step. Even AC in all the rooms would be great to have."
While the campus center typically remains open on a shortened schedule during the summer, this year the building will be closed, according to Golia. He said the OCL staff will temporarily work in empty offices in Dowling Hall until Facilities finishes the renovations and cleanup in the campus center.
Both the Lewis Hall and campus center projects will start on May 24, with a projected end date of Aug. 1, Santangelo said.
