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The new Hamilton Hall
Students come first in the renovation of the primary building of
the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.
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With just $2 million to spend on the renovations to Hamilton Hall, the
faculty of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication were hopeful
that there would be enough funds available to fix the exterior of the
building and update some of the student areas on the interior.
As Joel Geske, associate professor and associate director in the Greenlee
School, recalled, when the bids came on the initial project, faculty had
their fingers crossed.
Maybe that helped.
"The bids came in about 10-15 percent under budget," Geske said.
So much under budget that additional plans were made for the decades-old
structure.
After many years of use, it was time to renovate Hamilton Hall Geske says,
especially with a large increase in enrollment over the last five years.
The Greenlee School currently has over 1,100 majors.
"The building was so overcrowded we would have students sitting in
hallways," he said. "It was difficult to find ways to get around
in the building. The roof was leaking and there were physical problems
that needed to be corrected."
The main administrative offices were remodeled. Faculty offices got a
makeover and additional offices were added for the fast-growing academic
department.
"We were able to renovate the whole east wing of the building for
the faculty and administrative offices in addition to the planned student
service areas," Geske said.
This phase will renovate the area vacated by the International Studies
Office when they moved to the Memorial Union last year. The space will
become a research area that will include focus group facilities, office
space for personnel working on research grants and graduate students.
Next door will be an additional computer laboratory that can be used for
teaching and research purposes.
"For $2 million I think we've done a remarkable job to this building,"
Geske said.
In addition to the renovated faculty and administrative offices, the new
Hamilton Hall will include:
*A reading room including electronic resources for undergraduate and graduate
students alike;
* Meeting areas where students can work on group projects and have organizational
meetings, and guest professionals can hold public forums;
* Three "new" classrooms. While the number of classrooms in
Hamilton Hall will remain the same, all will have computer and video access;
* Better traffic flow. A darkroom that dominated the central part of the
main floor was torn out, creating additional natural walkways through
the building;
* An updated advising center.
"The students were our main focus in the renovation process,"
Geske said. "We (Greenlee School faculty) discussed what we could
do to make Hamilton Hall a better place for the students, one that they
could call their own and make their learning better.
" I think students will find the building very impressive when they
get back for classes."
For the past year, students and faculty have had to deal with construction
crews as the renovations got underway. In order to save money, the Greenlee
School faculty chose to complete the renovations in a year's time, instead
of a three-phase plan over a three-year period.
Faculty doubled up in the remaining Hamilton Hall offices. Only one classroom
was available in the building, forcing the Greenlee School to farm out
their classrooms all around campus.
"It was tight quarters but we managed," Geske said. "It
wasn't as bad as it could have been and in the end I think we have a building
that can serve as a good home for the students of the Greenlee School."
Around LAS
August 25 to September 7, 2003
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