University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 22, March 6, 1997



             Renovation begins on Delaware Ave. buildings

     Renovation and construction have begun on the three,
early 20th-century buildings at 46 to 56 West Delaware Ave.
These three brick duplexes will be connected in the back to
a new larger building. When completed, the as-yet unnamed
complex will be home to faculty and staff in the
departments of History and Anthropology.
     Currently, the interiors of the older buildings are
being prepared for renovation and the foundation of the
new, connecting building is being put into place.
     When construction is completed in August, the campus
will add about 26,000 square feet of new and renovated
office, meeting room and laboratory space, according to
David Hollowell, executive vice president,
     The West Delaware Avenue buildings will maintain their
present appearance, but the original door fronts will be
used as emergency exits only. All of the buildings will be
accessed through a main entrance, at the end of the new
building, located off the driveway near the west side of
the Trabant University Center.
     Since the older homes were built as duplexes,
Hollowell said, removing stairs in each structure has
increased each building's usable space. The basement of the
newly connected building will house a new anthropology
laboratory and several graduate student offices.
     Hollowell said the $3 million project will free up
space in Ewing Hall so that the Department of Mathematical
Sciences may be consolidated into one place this fall.
Statisticians are now working in Rees Hall on East Delaware
Avenue and the Preparatory Mathematics Program is located
in Pearson Hall.
                                              -Ed Okonowicz