RPS updates, renovates dormitories

While many IU students are relaxing this summer, Residential Programs and Services is working hard to fix up the residence halls in time for the fall semester. \nRPS is renovating selected parts of all dormitories. Some projects, ranging from minor improvements to major overhauls, got underway the day after students moved out for the summer.\nMoney for all the renovations will exceed $12 million, with $9 million alone going to upgrade Forest dormitory air conditioning systems and asbestos removal. The money for these projects comes from one-tenth of the revenues collected by the University for room and board fees. \n“The funding for these projects was planned for and is paid for by money that has accumulated in our capital renewal reserve funds,” RPS Executive Director Patrick Connor said.\nMany projects are a direct result of student feedback and ongoing planning, said Sara Ivey Lucas, assistant director for housing assignments. \nDirector of Facilities Larry Isom added that RPS must approve all renovations. \n“It has to be a consensus of all our housing directors,” he said. \nBathrooms selected from the buildings Bocobo and Elkin in McNutt Quad and Teter Quad, respectively, will receive the most extensive makeovers. Traditional community bathrooms will give way to private ones. In place of traditional community bathrooms, renovators will construct private ones, complete with lockable doors and personal showers, sinks and toilets. Additionally, the floors will all have communal sinks for use by several residents at a time, Ivey Lucas said. \nThe two dorm wings were chosen for this renovation mainly because of their community bathrooms’ layouts. This renovation comes at a cost of more than $3 million to the University, and depending on how long the project takes, RPS will determine whether to replicate the idea in other residence halls. \nForest Quad, built in the 1960s, will also undergo a face-lift, but it won’t exactly be cosmetic. Rather, workers will be removing asbestos from certain areas. This project is crucial because exposure to asbestos can carry long-term risks of chest and abdominal cancers and lung disease, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site. \n“Asbestos is present in the majority of our buildings since it was material that was used in construction up to 1980. It can be found in floor tile, linoleum, pipe insulation and ceilings,” Connor said. \nConnor also stated that materials containing asbestos are not dangerous unless they are damaged. \n“When this summer’s work is done, there will no longer be asbestos fibers in the ceilings of student rooms in Forest,” he said. \nIn addition, workers will install air conditioning in several dorm rooms. Tower A of Forest will be completely air conditioned by the coming fall semester, and Tower B will be equipped with air conditioning by the fall of 2008.\nA smaller project aimed at student convenience is installing card access in McNutt Quad, Teter Quad and Read Center.\nThis renovation will allow students to use their University-issued ID cards to access their buildings instead of using keys. \n“It does allow for monitoring who enters and when entry to the building is made, which can be helpful to building staff at certain times,” Connor said. “Part of our planning is evaluating the success of changes, and as our residence hall management team has determined that this is a successful project, we then expand to additional centers.” \nAll of the residence halls will have several floors chosen to receive new lounge furniture, Ivey Lucas said. \nOther minor changes include replacing several doors in Eigenmann Hall and remodeling a formal lounge in Briscoe Quad with new furniture and finishes. \n“The RPS facilities department is working very hard to get all of these projects done before fall, and I’m really proud to be a part of that,” said Michele Bowlen, assistant director of facilities management.