Summer makes way for renovation projects

HUNTINGTON -- While many students and faculty remain at home during the summer, the period is a busy season for the numerous planners, builders, electricians, plumbers, and other maintenance workers employed by Marshall University.

Walls are painted, carpets are replaced, concrete work is being done and new furniture moved in. In short, it's a time when a number of renovation projects throughout campus move forward.

"The Registrar's office in Old Main was completely redone," David Wellman, director of communications for Marshall, said. "We've finished up a six-month project that started over the holidays."

That meant a complete overhaul took place, according to Cora Westmoreland, a program assistant for the Registrar's office.

"There used to just be empty space with some cubical work areas in here, but there are separate office space for employees now," Westmoreland said. "Everything in here is new. New walls, new furniture, new desks and a new bookshelf."

Another major project currently under way is occurring in the basement of the Memorial Student Center. A former bowling alley is being converted into a large multi-purpose room. The room, expected to be finished during the fall term, will be used for speeches, conferences, banquets and other group events.

"Right now they're in the early stages of working on the room," Wellman said. "A new floor is being put in from the ground up, and from there I believe they're going to start to work on the walls and ceilings."

An ongoing renovation project is happening on the seventh floor of Smith Hall. It began last year when asbestos was removed from the walls of the building before the inner core offices were renovated.

Now the outer core office area is being redone with new carpeting, new signs, new electrical work and new walls.

"Last year we had to completely move out when the asbestos was being removed," said Edna Diane Cole, an administrative secretary with the Department of Modern Languages. "However, this year some of us can stay up here."

The floor is home to offices in the fields of modern languages, political science, art, sociology and criminal justice

Lifespace modular walls provided by Hayworth, Inc. are being installed throughout the floor. The walls are lightweight, making them easy to install and to move when necessary. This means the size and space of offices can be adjusted easily once the renovation is complete. New carpeting, electrical outlets, and other additions will be made to the refurbished offices.