We all know and love our little campus on the mountain. We also know that this campus could sometimes use a little TLC. I reached out to Corey Dupree, director of Facilities Management, to see what things were slated to be worked on this summer. Here are the highlights:
Sanderson Hall’s first floor lobby will get a facelift to match the newly renovated second floor.
The theatre department is getting a dedicated workshop by the cottages. This will potentially be available to students as a makerspace; more details to come.
The exteriors of Mills Hall and Anna E. Kresge Memorial Library are being refreshed so we can continue to enjoy nice, weather-sealed buildings. The lower roof sections of the chapel are also being renovated (back south stairs). Over the last couple years, the upper chapel roof has been finished, solving some long-term leak issues.
Jackson Hall will be getting a new HVAC system.
Over at Highlands, the baseball and softball teams are getting new batting cages and netting. The baseball field will also be graced with a new scoreboard.
Both the Ashe and Barnes gym courts will undergo a "screen and recoat," which involves sanding and re-application of finish. This is not a full refinishing, which involves sanding down to bare wood; we aren't due that for another couple of years.
With three out of four resident directors (RDs) cycling off, this is a prime opportunity to refresh the RD apartments in Mac, Carter and Andreas. The Founders RD apartment is also getting a new door.
Dorms and halls will undergo seasonal painting as usual. Founders Hall and the Mac-side Commons are getting windows replaced. Carter Hall’s fourth floor is getting new carpet. Founders 3rd Rayburn (the Burrow) is getting their showers renovated.
A temporary fix for the spalling concrete in Blackwatch Gardens (some misinformed people refer to the space as the 5-Points Gardens) is planned. A future renovation of this space is apparently in the works.
All the pea gravel walkways are slated to be replaced by pavers. The plan is to address the area south of Carter and north of Mills, including replacing the steps in front of Mills with a ramp. Also on the list is a rebuild of the steps across from Lucas Art Workshop, though this might extend into the fall semester.
New chillers are slated to be installed in Mac-Rymer and Brock Halls. This also might extend into fall semester. The hope is that the two chillers Mac and Rymer are currently on will be replaced with a single, more powerful, more efficient one.
Most of these projects are in-house facilities/departmental projects, which are usually planned out five years in advance. Many of the bigger projects are part of the Partners Campaign and are focused on "renewing academic spaces" and "impacting the student experience." They tend to be narrow in scope and involve fundraising. These projects included the Sanderson 215 and Probasco renovations and the planned Mills balcony.