University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
UpDate - Vol. 16, No. 33, May 29

           Renovations are planned for Mall residence halls
     
     The revenue bond resolution passed May 27 by the Board
of Trustees will support an extensive five-year project that
will renovate the interiors of 10 of 11 residence halls on
its north and south central Mall. The eleventh building,
Harter Hall, was renovated in 1992. Construction will begin
next month.
     The project, with cosmetic and system upgrades
scheduled for each building, will include enhancements to
student rooms, bathrooms and common spaces; improvements to
heating, plumbing and electrical systems as needed; and the
addition of air conditioning to some buildings.
Modifications also will be made to increase accessibility in
selected buildings.
     Under the plan, renovations would be completed in 2002.
Some residence halls would be renovated during the summer
months, while others could be closed during an academic
year. Sussex Hall, part of the first year of the program,
will be closed for the upcoming fall semester and will
reopen for the spring '98 semester. At that time, New Castle
Hall will be closed for similar renovations, to reopen for
the fall '98 semester.
     In addition to Sussex and New Castle halls, the
following dormitories also are scheduled to be renovated:
Smyth (summers of '97, '98 and '99); Brown (summer of '97);
Warner (summer of '98); Sypherd (1998-99 academic year);
Kent (summer '99); Squire (1999-2000 academic year); Cannon
(2000-01 academic year); and Sharp (2001-02 academic year).
All dates are tentative until final plans are complete.
     Although some halls will be closed during the
renovation, David G. Butler, executive director of housing
and conference services, said he expects the University will
be able to continue its practice of housing all students who
apply by the room assignment deadline each year.
     Renovations to the buildings on the Mall will not
affect their facades. Classical in design, some of the
residence halls on the Mall date back to the early part of
the century and help form the architectural centerpiece of
the University. The oldest building to receive upgrades,
Warner Hall, was constructed in 1914.
     "Although these renovations would bring the residence
halls into the 21st century, their traditional look will not
change," Barbara L. Kreppel, assistant vice president for
administrative services, said. "These projects are being
undertaken with the idea of modernizing while preserving."
     "The structural improvement of these residence halls
will fulfill a two-fold need," according to Eli J. Lesser,
president of the Resident Student Association. "It will not
only better serve current students by providing up-to-date
facilities, but it will also ensure that future generations
of students will get to enjoy living on the Mall as well."
     The master plan is being developed by Burt Hill Kosar
Associates, a Philadelphia-based architectural and interior
design firm, which also will supervise construction. Cost of
the five-year project has been estimated at $24 million.