Within the next few years Heitz Hall may be a more popular housing option for incoming freshmen.
Director of Facilities Management Ron Doerzaph said renovations on the building are expected to begin May 12.
“We are going to do this project in two summers,” he said. “We want to get in there and get it started.”
Everything from the floors to the ceilings of the building will be redone, including furnishing and enlarging the room size.
Doerzaph said after completion of the project, each floor has a different floor plan including at least one singles room and one triple room on each floor. Each room will have new interchangeable beds, desks, wardrobes and small dressers.
“It’s great that Heitz will be renovated, because the current rooms really are lacking in space when compared to the other dorms on campus,” freshman graphic design major Kelsey Tueth said. “Because the beds are not lofted, we have very little space in our room, so it’s hard to have anyone hang out with my roommate and me without us all being cramped.”
Doerzaph mostly said larger renovations will take place throughout summer, leaving smaller projects with minimal work for the fall. One project will be completed in the fall is the installation of an elevator.
New windows and air conditioning are additional perks that should help the uncontrollable room temperatures.
Tueth said she doesn’t like being unable to control the temperature in her room.
“Once the building’s heat gets turned on, it stays on no matter how warm it is outside, which makes it really hot most of the time,” she said. “Ability to control the temperature [and having air conditioning] and more spacious rooms will be great for residents next year. I wish these changes had been made last year.”
Freshman mathematics and music major Adam Windish said he was originally assigned to live in Heitz.
“After seeing my building and my room I decided I would rather commute,” he said. “I think it’s great that it is finally going to be redone because it’s not fair to the current hall residents who have to live in such a terrible building compared to all other dorms.”
Doerzaph said he is pleased the hall will be finally be renovated.
“I am so glad to see it being done, it’s the last building on campus to be renovated,” he said. “You can only do so much due to cash flow. We spent a lot on University Hall, Geisert Hall, Wendle Hall, Williams Hall and Wyckoff Hall. I am thrilled to see that we are going to get in and get it redone.”
