Written by Gina Cielo
Harding officials said this month that they will continue to spruce up campus with a more modern look, one building at a time.Harding announced two major reconstruction projects for this coming summer, which include the renovation of Stephens Residence Hall and an addition to the Ganus Athletic Center.Harding University’s board of trustees approved the two projects with the intent for them to be completed before the beginning of the 2011 fall semester.David Collins, vice president and dean of students, said the renovation in Stephens will be very similar to that of Sears Hall, which was renovated this past summer.According to a Harding press release, interior changes will include new décor in the lobby areas, new color schemes and new plumbing throughout the building. The exterior façade of the building will be changed to match the architectural look of surrounding buildings, including the use of more energy-efficient windows. A new, pitched roof will also replace the current flat roof, and a more efficient heating and cooling system will be added.Collins said the renovation of Stephens Residence Hall has actually already begun.”We have begun building cabinets at a different location so that a lot of those items are ready to come in as soon as the demolition is finished at the beginning of the summer,” Collins said.The renovation of Stephens Residence Hall seemed obvious, Collins said. All of the buildings on the men’s side, with the exception of Allen Hall, and all of the buildings on the women’s side with the exception of Stephens have been reconstructed.”There’s just a real need there,” Collins said. “It is the last of the older buildings on campus that has not been renovated.”During the summer 2011, the Ganus Athletic Center will also undergo some changes, including a 21,000-square-foot addition. According to the Harding press release, the new addition to the GAC will be constructed on the east side of the building and will contain a locker room, weight room and meeting area for the football program plus offices, classrooms and other facilities for the school’s athletic training program.The cost of the renovations are expected to reach $4 million for Stephens Residence Hall and $1.6 million for the Ganus Athletic Center.The two new projects, paired with the $4 million addition to the Mabee Business Center already underway, will give Harding almost $10 million in renovated facilities by the end of 2011, according to the Harding press release.
