The University Housing Division will shut down Bice House for renovations during the 2003-2004 academic year.
One of the 10 on-Grounds housing options available to upperclassmen, the Bice House apartments on Brandon Avenue currently accommodate 286 students.
Slated to begin immediately following graduation this spring, costs for the renovations total over $7 million, according to University Capital Budget Manager Tom Leback.
After a routine inspection discovered problems with the brick exterior and its attachment to the building, Bice House was moved to the top of the Housing Division's priority list for renovations. Housing officials later decided to shut it down next year, in order for repairs to be completed as soon as possible.
"It is a safety issue," said John Griffin, director of operations for the Housing Division.
Minor renovations to Bice House were initially planned to take place gradually over three summers, Griffin said.
"We couldn't wait and just do nothing," Leback said. "I view this as an emergency project."
Of the 9,755 upperclass students enrolled, over 3,450 live in on-Grounds housing.
Although some might anticipate shutting down Bice would result in a possible housing shortage, John Evans, director of Accommodations for the Housing Division, is not worried.
"The net loss of spaces won't be that dramatic," Evans said, because of the recent addition of 77 spaces in the Language Houses and the fact that Accommodations will not be holding the usual 150 spaces for incoming transfer students next year.
Because the Housing Division receives auxiliary funding from its residents, it is not severely affected by state budget cuts, usually spending between $2 to $3 million each year on minor dorm renovations and repairs, he said.
Before construction can begin, however, a capital outlay authorization is needed from the General Assembly because the project exceeds the $500,000 threshold for typical renovations. Although the request for state approval has yet to be submitted, design work for the renovations is already in progress, under a blanket authorization for $700,000.
According to Griffin, although the most urgent renovation is that of the brick exterior, it is "more cost effective in the long-run" to complete any interior renovations simultaneously while the building is shut down.
The interior refurbishing targets kitchens and bathrooms, including the replacement of the ceiling in the bathrooms, new kitchen cabinets, countertops and ceramic tile flooring in bathrooms.New windows and doors also will be installed.
The newly renovated Bice House will open in August 2004, and although there has been some discussion that this year's residents should have priority to live there following its reopening, no decision has been reached, Griffin said.
While current Bice House residents are not exposed to any immediate dangers, the fences surrounding the building are in place to catch any bricks if they were to come loose, Griffin added.
Despite initial confusion on move-in day, residents remain unfazed by the external safety measures.
"No one seems really too concerned," said Rachel Dean, Bice House head resident coordinator. "I'm really surprised there hasn't been any more discussion or uproar about it."
University Housing has been in contact with residents through handouts and via e-mail to keep them informed, Dean said.
"It's been very safe," she added. "I haven't had any complaints or concerns."
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