Residence halls undergo minor renovations

Mandi Mooney,

Reporter

The residence halls Hart, Sutton and Webb underwent minor renovations this summer, with each dorm receiving new study rooms and Hart and Sutton’s lobbies getting a face-lift. 

“The downstairs lobby in Sutton is much more welcoming now and looks almost unrecognizable compared to (last year),” Sutton Hall resident Cassie Lomison said.

In Sutton, the downstairs lobby was completely renovated with new carpet, paint and furniture. The basement renovation also included the addition of two large study rooms that can hold about 14 people each, which give large groups a place to congregate and study. Upstairs, a dorm room on each floor was converted into a study room.

“The new rooms are good if you want to get out of your room but don’t want to walk down to the library or SUB,” Lomison said.

In Hart Hall, two maintenance rooms on each floor were retiled and painted to be used as study rooms. Each floor lobby received new furniture.

“The (Hart) lobbies badly needed a face-lift,” said Hart Hall resident Alison Moore. “I would also like to see pictures or color added to the walls in the future.”

In Webb Hall, four study rooms were added in the basement as well as two rooms off of the main lobby.

According to Director of Student Life Danielle Booth, the renovations are fulfilling specific needs of the student body.

“Students who wanted to have Bible studies or study groups did not have a nice place to congregate and we tried to provide that,” Booth said.

According to Booth, the goal of the renovations is to “enhance fellowship between the students, as well as make the dorms more appealing to prospective students.”

Planning for the changes began in early 2003, a few months after Milligan received a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. Milligan was one of 39 colleges and universities in the country to be awarded a grant of $1.9 million last November.

According to President Don Jeanes, the total cost of the renovations was approximately $100,000.

“Hopefully if students realize how much it cost, they will be motivated to take care of the furniture,” Jeanes said.