UpDate - Vol. 11, No. 1, Page 1
September 5, 1991
Summer good time for campus renovations

     Operation fix-up/spruce-up has been in full swing all summer
with hammering, sawing, painting, plumbing, wiring, digging,
paving, carpeting, lighting, pipe laying and roofing going on
throughout the campus.
     According to David Hollowell, senior vice president for
administration, this year has been a time of high-level activity in
maintaining and renovating campus buildings, with projects carried
out by the Facilities Planning and Construction Department and the
Plant Operations Department using both University staff and outside
contractors.
     During the past four years, two-thirds of the classrooms on
campus have been redone, with the rest scheduled for the next
couple years, Hollowell said. This summer, some classrooms in Brown
Laboratory, Smith Hall, Evans Hall, the Willard Hall Education
Building and Colburn Laboratory were renovated.
     According to Jim Dougherty, director of facilities planning
and construction, the department has been involved in several
projects, such as the new parking lot for the Visitors Center.
Another project has been the Wolf Hall auditorium which was
remodeled to serve more effectively in its double roll as a
classroom and student theatre. Students had in-put on the
renovation, Dougherty said, and the projection screen has been
moved forward in front of the curtains so that classroom activities
won't interfere with sets and scenery on the re-built stage. New
seating, lights and a ceiling have been installed, and the room has
been modified to support multi-media instruction.
     Moving outdoors, the tennis courts on Academy Street and by
the Carpenter Sports Building have received face-lifts with
resurfacing and new fencing. Some buildings, including Mitchell
Hall, have been painted on the exterior.
     Water mains and steam condensate lines have been replaced
along the South Mall.
     The University has not neglected its older buildings. Old
College is receiving a fresh coat of paint in certain areas, and
the ventilation is being improved.
     Studios and graduate student space in Recitation Hall and the
Annex are being upgraded. Raub Hall has been repainted and
furnished with new carpet, a drop ceiling and new lighting.
     New roofs have been installed on Rodney C, D and E, and other
Rodney projects include lighting, new showers and work on the
heating system. The Rodney Dining Hall serving area has been
redone, and more work is scheduled next year.
     The Center for Black Culture has been redecorated inside and
a new entryway and porch are under construction.
     As Blue and Gold Club devotees know, the club was closed for
part of the summer for redecoration. The air conditioning system
has been modified so that window units are no longer needed in the
main dining room, rooms have been painted and new draperies and
carpeting are in place.
     Permanent handicapped ramps are being built at Hullihen and
Mitchell halls.
     In addition to these improvements, other major construction
projects were under way.
     The new Visitors' Center on South College Avenue is about to
open; the Ray Street residence complex opened on schedule for
incoming students; Arsht Hall on the Wilmington campus will be
available for classes this week and will be dedicated in October,
and construction of the Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center and
the new addition to Brown Laboratory is progressing.
                                        - Sue Swyers Moncure