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| Vol. 17, No. 3 | Sept. 18, 1997 |
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| Vol. 17, No. 3 | Sept. 18, 1997 |
Interior renovations to the Brown and Smyth residence halls highlighted an extensive list of improvements made to housing and dining facilities during the summer.
Brown Hall was completely renovated with state-of-the-art fire detection, suppression and alarm systems installed throughout the building. New chandeliers, flooring and archways were added to the reception area. Stairways, hallways and study and laundry lounges also were remodeled, and student rooms received new doors and upgraded electrical units and finishes. To accommodate more students, additional single and double rooms and a bathroom were constructed on the first floor of the building.
The first phase of renovations of Smyth Hall included new carpeting, lighting, flooring and upgraded electrical units to all student rooms and public areas in the basement level. Fire detection, suppression and alarm systems also were installed in the basement area. In addition, all Smyth bathrooms were completely remodeled, and new rooms were added on the ground floor to accommodate residents with disabilities. The second phase of improvements to Smyth Hall are expected to be completed during the summer of 1998.
Also during the summer, renovations began on Sussex Hall and they are continuing through December, with the facility closed for the the fall semester. Construction there includes cosmetic and system upgrades to corridors, student rooms and lounges, stairwells, bathrooms and lobbies. Heating, plumbing and electrical systems also are being improved. To minimize excessive noise, major demolition was completed during the summer.
Sussex renovation work is scheduled from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, with weekend construction hours to be determined at a later date.
New Castle Hall is scheduled to undergo renovation during the spring and summer of 1998, and students living there now will have the option of moving to Sussex Hall for the spring 1998 semester or requesting a room change to another residence hall.
The renovations to Brown, Smyth, Sussex and New Castle halls are part of a five-year project that will upgrade the interior of all residence halls on the central Mall. The tentative time schedule for remaining renovations is Warner Hall, summer 1998; Sypherd Hall, summer 1998 through spring 1999; Kent Hall, summer 1999; Squire Hall, summer 1999 through spring 2000; Cannon Hall, summer 2000 through spring 2001; and Sharp Hall, summer 2001 through spring 2002.
The five-year plan is being developed and supervised by Burt Hill Kosar Associates, a Philadelphia-based architectural and interior design firm.
In addition to the renovations being done on the central Mall, several other residence halls received improvements this summer.
All hallways and lobby areas in Gilbert residence halls received new floor surfaces, lighting and painting, and a new fire detection and alarm system.
All corridors in the Christiana West tower received new carpeting, vinyl tile, paint and ceiling lights, and a ramp was installed for students with disabilities and guest accessibility at the third-floor entrance to the Christiana West tower.
The Christiana Commons bathrooms were upgraded with new floor tile, paint, partitions and plumbing fixtures.
All fan coil units in Pencader rooms were cleaned and insulated, and all student rooms in Pencader units G-M received new carpeting, paint, furnishings, overhead lighting and bathroom partitions.
At the Ray Street Residence Halls, all student rooms were painted and 140 sink countertops were replaced with one-piece Corian units.
New fire lanes, entrance doors and window walls in stairwells were installed in the Dickinson complex, and new HVAC units and carpeting were installed in the Rodney Hall C building. A new student fitness facility, offering total body conditioners, treadmills, stationary bikes and strength-training equipment has been constructed on the site of the former Rodney Underground full-service restaurant. The Underground has been converted to an express restaurant and will feature ready-to-go foods.
In the Perkins Student Center, the Scrounge received new refrigeration units, its loading dock was expanded to accommodate larger deliveries, and its salad/sandwich preparatory area was enlarged to provide faster service to dining carts around campus. Designs are being developed to renovate the Scrounge's serving area sometime during 1998.
Photo by Jack Buxbaum
