Expected changes to KSU’s Residence Halls
By: Patrick Shade, Chris Yamnitsky, Jessica Darling
Many students who live in on-campus housing do not know where the money they spend for room and board goes. In the video below, we sat down with Executive Director of Residence Services Jill Church to find out where student’s room and board money goes and what the future plans are for resident services.
Over the last several years, Kent State University has seen changes to many of its buildings. The Office for Institutional Advancement and the College of Architecture have each seen new buildings built over the last few years, while other buildings have seen renovations.
Thomas Euclide, associate vice president of Facilities Planning and Operations, says that at any one time, University Architects can manage $200 million worth of projects.
Residence halls take up a decent portion of the projects. Public records reveal that an 10-year master plan projects an estimate of $128 million to be spent on residence halls from 2012 to 2022.
Euclide says that the biggest project has been the renovation of the Tri-Towers during 2013 and 2014.
The renovations, which included exterior repair, room finishes, and new windows for all three buildings, had an estimated cost of almost $35 million dollars.
Another major renovation project occurred in the summer of 2015, where Beall, McDowell, Prentice, and Dunbar had wardrobe and flooring replacements among the changes, for an estimated total of $18 million.
Euclide also said that next summer, air conditioning would be coming to Olson and Lake Halls, an estimated cost of $4.7 million.
As technology continues to evolve with the times, Euclide said that it is one factor that comes in determining the future of rooms, as students take more classes online and rely on their smartphones and other electronic devices.
Even if a project is estimated at just over $16,000, like lounge furniture at Koonce Hall, Euclide said that how universities spend money on renovations can determine a student’s future choice, noting that it can truly be an impression that lasts on a potential student.
Check out our story on future plans for residence halls at Kent State University. #JMCRPP https://t.co/lUbhfx5poU
— Chris Yamnitsky (@yamzevrywher) November 11, 2016
Wondering where your room rate money for living on campus goes? Find out in our article! #JMCRPP https://t.co/06TgbpOO61
— Jess (@Jessi_D2013) November 11, 2016
In this #JMCRPP story, find out how Kent State renovates residence halls to adjust to the changing times. https://t.co/PkWm5GZXB8
— Patrick Shade (@PatrickShadeJMC) November 15, 2016
