Lee to receive campus-wide facelift
Photo by Senior Photographer Morgan Kiehl
Lee University’s campus will receive a campus-wide facelift as dorms, academic buildings and streets undergo renovations during the summer break.
Renovations have already begun in some buildings on campus, while others will occur later this year.
According to Director of Residential Life and Housing Jarad Russell, Sharp-Davis, a popular female dorm, will close completely for renovations during the fall of 2022. Sharp-Davis is one of the largest female dorms and can house up to 238 residents. Residential Life and Housing hopes to accommodate all the students who have applied to live on-campus in the fall; however, plans are still in progress.
“At this time, we’re not sure [if we’ll fit all the students]. So we’re just waiting on housing applications to see what that looks like,” Russell said.
Photo by Editor in Chief Anna Shand
Male dormitory Bowdle O’Bannon closed two of its floors this spring as flooring was replaced and walls were repainted. All four floors of Bowdle will be renovated during the summer of 2022, and the remaining floors will be completed in the fall.
Cross Hall, a female dorm on the Pedestrian Mall, also received new floors and paint this spring. It will also be the first dorm to have its windows replaced to alleviate ventilation problems.
“The fans in the bathrooms of Cross will be replaced to create better ventilation of the steam caused by hot showers. This will help prevent moisture from sticking to the walls,” said Russell.
According to Director of Physical Plant and Building Services Larry Berry, the total costs of renovations have not been finalized.
“We looked at the dorms and began work in buildings that have gone the longest with minimal upgrades. Then we went through a process of deciding what work would have the best impact for students, and what we could complete in the available time frame,” said Berry. “We also worked with an in-house committee and an outside company to help pick styles and color schemes with flooring, paint, etc.”
Berry also said the renovations might require help from outside contractors.
“Our plan for the renovation projects is to do as much work with our team as possible, and then blend outside contractor work when needed. This approach allows us to maximize the improvements in the dorms by reducing overall outside contractor labor costs,” said Berry.
Students should also expect to see some academic buildings upgraded as well.
In a chapel service on Thursday, April 7, President Mark Walker informed students the Mayfield Annex would undergo exterior renovations and streetscaping.
Photo by Editor in Chief Anna Shand
“By the end of the summer or into the fall, Mayfield will have a whole new look to it,” said Walker.
Walker also mentioned the school plans to update the Recreational Center. He shared that school officials have looked at other university rec centers and conducted surveys to hear student input.
“Now it’s a matter of just compiling all of that data to see where an updated or brand new rec center is going to fit in the priority of other institutional needs,” said Walker.
Some students, like junior nursing major Tanner Johnson, are excited to see these improvements.
“The renovations are definitely necessary and should be taken seriously,” said Johnson. “Making these renovations and changes will not only benefit the health and safety of students, but will make a more happy, comfortable living environment for students on campus.”
