Mark Twain renovations delayed

The change will delay the completion of Residential Life’s Master Plan for residence hall renovations.

By Luke Udstuen

Published Jan. 6, 2010

The Department of Residential Life will delay the renovation of Mark Twain residence hall, extending the completion of the Residential Life Master Plan to beyond its intended date of 2015.

Renovations at the residence hall were originally scheduled to begin after the fall 2010 semester but could be pushed back one to two years. Residential Life spokeswoman Harriet Green-Sappington said going forward with the renovations as planned would have forced Residential Life to increase rates for rooms.   "The budget was not short," Green-Sappington said in an e-mail. "The decision to delay the project was influenced by the desire to not accrue more immediate debt which would have necessitated higher room rate increases at a time when many students and their families are challenged by current economic conditions."   Junior Lindsay Cochrum, who has served as a peer adviser in Mark Twain hall for two years, said delaying the renovations won't cause a problem for students living there.

"Twain could use a face lift, but it's in no way in dire need or renovations immediately," Cochrum said in an e-mail. "I really don't think the delay in renovations will affect students' experience there."

Freshman Jacob Walsh, a resident of the residence hall, said he prefers it to more recently renovated halls, despite older facilities.   "I don't think the age of Mark Twain has affected my experience at all," Walsh said in an e-mail. "I visited other dorms throughout this semester and found that the only difference was slightly newer and higher quality rooms. I would easily give up new and higher quality items for the strong community I have found in Mark Twain."   Twain's renovation is part of the Residential Life Master Plan, which plans to renovate all 19 residence halls. It is divided into five phases. Mark Twain's renovation falls into the third phase, Residential Life's Web site stated.   "The Mark Twain project delay will result in subsequent project RLMP delays," Green-Sappington said.  "The start of the phase four and five projects will be proportional to the Mark Twain delay, meaning individual projects will be delayed by one or two years."      The decision to delay renovation of Mark Twain residence hall will not interfere with other projects already underway, such as the renovations for Hudson and Gillett residence halls and for Rollins Commons.   "The renovation of these three buildings was bid a year ago as one project and construction continues," Green-Sappington said. "Hudson and Rollins halls will reopen fall 2010 as planned. Gillett is scheduled to reopen fall 2011, as planned."   In 2005, five years into the Residential Life Master Plan, Residential Life re-evaluated the plan, modifying building materials and mechanical systems.   The changes to the plan also added renovations to common buildings, such as Pershing, Bingham and Rollins commons, expanding the plan from a 15-year project to a 17-year one, Green-Sappington said.