Babcock reopens for fall

After a multi-million dollar renovation, students living in the Babcock basement will no longer have to worry about the bathroom flooding.

Just in time for the new school year and for returning students and faculty, the renovations of Babcock Residence Hall are finally complete. Although a great deal of the construction took place last spring, the summer months proved extremely worthwhile in completing this $2.7 million project. Included in this undertaking were, of course, basic renovations and heavy infrastructure work.

ìIn general we attempted to gut the buildingís structural skeletonówe did new wiring, new plumbing, a new roof and new windows,” recalled the Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life Christie Kr‰cker. In addition, residents of Babcock will benefit not only from the new, more colorful walls but will also enjoy amenities such as new furniture and carpet throughout the building and dorm rooms, as well as the newest installment of railings around the window wells.

Something perhaps not as visible to students would be the replacement of all mechanical systems in Babcock. The newest installment of air handlers and proficient fan coil units in each student dorm room will be controlled by thermostats individually placed in the studentsí rooms. Vince Williamson, the facilities project manager of the College explained, ìMany of the changes during the renovation focused on increasing the energy efficiency of the building. This includes the windows, insulating the attic, low-flow fixtures and automated lighting using occupancy sensors and timers.”

With all the newest renovations in Babcock, there were a number of restorations, with particular attention paid to the hardwood floors that were so cherished in the old Babcock by students and faculty alike. ìWe restored all of the original woodwork in the main lounge, restored the Terrazzo floors throughout the building and were able to save and refinish the hardwood floors in all but approximately three dorm rooms,” reveals Williamson. Those who take a walk past Babcock will be able to admire the new stonework and brick restorations that were completed on the exterior walls as well as visit the Corey Cline Butterfly Garden located behind the new patio.

Currently, Babcock is home to the Cross Cultural Living Experiences Program, where students actively organize and engage in cross-cultural programs. This year, the College implemented a new initiative called the Center for Diversity and Global Engagement, which houses their offices in the newly renovated residence hall. Those involved with the new program will facilitate a number of different events, working with the broader community as well as the college community to promote diversity on campus and engage students with issues on local and global levels.

Overall, the excitement of the construction being completed has certainly been felt throughout campus. Those involved with the program have received thus far nothing but positive feedback from students, faculty and staff members. Kr‰cker hopes students will enjoy the newly renovated building, ìThis was a very personally rewarding process ó getting to work through the renovation project from choosing of the architect, to helping with the plans, to choosing colors and furniture,” she said. ìI hope that the students will benefit from living in such a tremendous community.”

The hard work put forth by the contractors, those involved in the renovation process and even those students who have patiently waited to return to Babcock, is all greatly appreciated by the campus community.

According to Williamson, the overarching goal was ìto give a warm, inviting, functioning, problem-free building back to the students.” For the moment, it looks as if this goal unarguably has been reached.