Butler to Remodel Residence Hall Community
Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind., has announced that it will soon be renovating its Residential College. The residence hall was built in 1988 and serves mainly first-year students. The project is slated to last about two years and cost more than $20 million, according to a news release.
The plans for the renovations were approved in early 2020, right before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Renovations to the interior and exterior of the facility’s residential areas are set to begin in May 2022, with renovations to the dining hall set for summer 2023. The university is partnering with architecture firm Solomon Cordwell Buenz and construction firm Turner Construction.
“Just as we are committed to providing our students with top-tier academics at Butler, we aim to create an excellent out-of-class experience for them, and that includes our residential communities that are home for many Butler students,” said Dr. Frank E. Ross, Vice President for Student Affairs. “Residential College already offers a vibrant community with access to valuable campus amenities, and this renovation will further enhance opportunities for students to live and learn together in a place they are excited to be.”
The renovations will be made to match a small group of 18 rooms that were previously renovated in 2019. Corridors, public restrooms, plumbing and air handling units throughout the entire facility will also see significant upgrades. Plans also include renovations of outdoor environments, including space for recreation and relaxation as well as terrace seating.
The second phase of construction begins in 2023 and will revamp the facility’s dining hall. Work is set to include both aesthetic details like décor, murals and greenery and hard upgrades to the kitchen and back-of-house areas. The university said it expects all renovations to be complete by the end of 2023.
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Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at mjones@1105media.com.