Residential Services renovates student housing

For students, the summer of 2008 meant work, the beach and vacation, but for Muhlenberg, the summer of 2008 meant major, much needed housing renovations. One of the bigger housing projects that happened on campus this summer was full window replacement for all of the sorority houses and for the north face of Prosser Hall.

According to Aaron Bova, The Associate Director of Housing Services, "In addition to providing an easier to use and more aesthetically pleasing window, the new energy-efficient windows mean enormous energy and cost savings."

For Prosser, this is the second year of a three year phased project. Last year the west face of the building was complete and next year, the final year, the south face will be complete.

Additionally, the newer style windows can accommodate personal air conditioning units, which have come into higher demand each year. This summer was a big deal for Prosser as there were also hand dryers installed in the bathrooms. Bova says that "this installation is the first of many as we hope to roll this out to every hall" and that the installation is a direct result of students advocating for hand dryers and soap in the bathrooms on campus over the last few years.

Bathrooms seemed to be the main focus of these numerous housing projects as Brown Hall, Benfer Hall, the 319/321 N 22nd Street apartments, and the Delta Zeta house all received updated bathroom facilities.

The Brown bathroom renovations are the second year of a three year project. Last year the third floor bathrooms were completed, this year the second floor and next summer the first floor will receive newly renovated bathrooms.

Brown Hall Head Resident Advisor, Gina Schumann '10, has high hopes for the effects of the new bathrooms. According to Schumann, "The Brown bathrooms definitely needed to be redone. I know last year we had broken tiles on the floor and inappropriate things carved in the doors, so it's nice to have a new, fresh start. I hope that since they are new and clean, the girls will respect it more and take better care of the space they live in."

The bathrooms were completely gutted and received all new tiles, fixtures, toilets, sinks, showers, stalls, and a fresh coat of paint.

The new Benfer bathrooms have completed several years of upgrades to the suites and Bova expresses that "the project really helps to improve the look of Benfer suites. Before the renovations the bathrooms were really showing their age and were in desperate need of a facelift."

The same goes for the second floor bathroom in the Delta Zeta house. The shower pans were deteriorating, causing leaks into the first floor and according to Aaron Bova, the renovations to the second floor bathroom has solved that issue.

The last of the bathroom renovation happened in the 319/321 N 22nd Street apartments. All six apartments at this complex had full bathroom renovations meaning that they were completely gutted and received new tile, showers, fixtures, toilets, sinks, vanities, and painting.

The east side of campus also grabbed some attention this summer as all four floors of Martin Luther Hall were treated to a fresh coat of paint as well as all the rooms and halls of East Hall D-G. East was also treated to exterior brick/stone masonry restoration on a section of the west and south face of the building.

Bova says, "This very important project has spruced up the exterior look of East while also addressing the structural integrity of the building. The building is over one hundred years old and the brick was showing its age and needed restoration."

Students are also responding to the renovations with enthusiasm. Tara Mannino '10, who lived in East Hall last year and is living there again this year as an RA states, "East has always had so much character. That's the best part of living in a hundred-year-old building...it has decades of timeless beauty, that thanks to the new paint job and brick work, will be around for decades to come! Thanks for keeping the centennial masterpiece looking like new!"

One of the most significant improvements to happen on campus this year was the installment of a full kitchen to the Eve Elizabeth House, formerly AEPi, on 2228 Gordon Street C.A.S.E. will be occupying the property this year and in support of their successful programs, a kitchen - which the house did not have previously - is a necessity.

Residential Services is looking forward to completing the projects currently in action after the multitude of successful and exciting renovations this summer.