James Fox, Campus Carrier deputy news editor

Over the course of the summer, construction projects have been underway in preparation for the 2024-2025 school year. While the new health sciences building, Morgan-Bailey Hall, remains under construction, both Evans and Thomas Berry have received renovations. The renovations are meant to improve student quality of life both in the classroom and in residence halls, with Evans receiving a new HVAC system.

“They needed to replace the HVAC unit in the building, the whole heating and cooling system because it was just very old [and] in very poor condition,” Interim Dean of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Kirsten Taylor said. “There were concerns about how long it might last. Because of the size of the system and where it was in the building and the length of time it was going to be out of service, we had to leave the building over the summer. They also replaced all the windows and blinds in the process. The other repair that they did [was add] some new flooring to those high traffic areas of the building.” 

However, there is still work to be done in Evans, according to Taylor. 

“This is a multiple stage project, and this was just stage one,” Taylor said. “Phase two involves a number of things, but I believe primarily putting in newer technology for the thermostats so that the heating and the cooling can be controlled centrally, but also have more consistent heating and cooling throughout the building. I believe that will mean some more duct work and it’s gonna involve tearing out some ceilings. I think we’re going to get some new ceiling tiles in the process too. It’s gonna be a dirty, long project again, probably over another summer.”

Taylor said she is already noticing improvements with the first stage of renovations completed. 

“The air quality is much better,” Taylor said. “As an old building, the smell is cleaner.”

With the first phase of Evans’ renovations complete, students should expect time spent inside to be more comfortable. Thomas Berry should also feel the same way, as the interior was completely redone over the summer. Junior Katie Frankman is living in Thomas Berry this year and has seen the building’s trsnsformation. 

“Over the summer they took down pretty much everything that was in there,” Frankman said. “[They] pretty much tore down everything and left the walls up. So pretty much everything is completely new.” 

Frankman said the renovated hall is much nicer. 

“I had only been in there a couple of times last year,” Frankman explained. “It was kinda dark and musty and old. So with the renovations it’s a lot lighter now, it feels happier, smells good.”

With the improvement of one of Berry’s few non-traditional housing options, Frankman feels that there may be more competition for these coveted single spaces.

“If [Berry] offers really nice housing for upperclassmen people will want to live on campus more,” Frankman said, “But I don’t know if it resolves the whole problem of there being enough room. If upperclassmen can’t get into Centennial and now Thomas Berry — the nicer spots — that’s gonna make a lot of students unhappy who feel like they deserve to live in a nicer spot.”

Even with the concerns of housing, the renovations made on Thomas Berry have been very positive, and the renovations to Evans are likely to have the same effect once students start classes again on Monday.