Warren Hall gets an upgrade
By Alicia Tuszynski
Staff Writer
University of Indianapolis administrators plan to complete an estimated $1.2 million renovation of Warren Hall by the beginning of the 2010 fall semester.
In 2005, Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli developed focus groups to solicit information from students and concentrate on residents’ expectations about living on campus. Concerns from students included the need for moveable furniture, bigger closets and more storage space.
“While evaluating what [students] want to see, we realized we needed to totally renovate and upgrade Warren Hall,” Vitangeli said.
According to Physical Plant Director Ken Piepenbrink, in the past, general maintenance (such as upgrading the air conditioning units and replacing windows) was performed annually on all dormitories.
“The cost to maintain the building will decrease if we continue upgrading systems to make the buildings more efficient for living conditions,” Piepenbrink said.
The fifth floor was completed in the summer of 2006, and the fourth floor was finished a year later. Functional and safety aspects of the rooms were updated, which entailed re-wiring the lighting and updating sprinkler systems and fire escapes. New carpet in hallways, re-furnishing of beds, drawers, desks and bigger closets were installed to provide better comfort and utilities.
According to Piepenbrink, because of rising costs in the construction industry, the original estimate of $220,000 rose to $250,000. The contract states that the university would purchase the furnishings and supplies, and independent contracting companies were hired to install the equipment.
When the time came for new freshmen to move into the dorm in the fall of 2007, it was a lucky draw for new residents to live on the new floor. A few incoming freshmen were fortunate enough to reside on the improved floors.
Freshman communication major Molly Noonan was one of the incoming freshmen who received a key for a room on the fifth floor- an all girls floor- at the beginning of the year.
“My friend lives on the third floor. Comparing the two floors, I am so glad I am living on the new one. It is so much nicer,” Noonan said.
An abundance of freshmen caused some to be assigned to live in the basement of Warren Hall this school year. According to Vitangeli, the school hopes to alleviate overcrowding so all residents can live in the new rooms. Warren holds approximately 275 residents.
Depending on other campus projects, the final completion of Warren Hall may take less time than expected.
“We do a surplus at the end of the year, and depending on the cash flow we decide if we can do more floors at once,” Piepenbrink said.
Warren Hall and Corey Bretz are two of the oldest dormitories on UIndy campus. According to Vitangeli, the cycle of improvements are constantly updated and Cravens Hall is the next to be renovated.
