Even though he realizes DeHority Complex desperately needs renovations, freshman Robert Bunner said he will miss its tight-knit group of residents after it closes for construction this fall. Bunner has become very fond of DeHority after living there for a semester, he said.
"I think it's kinda sad [that DeHority will close] because DeHority has a really great character to it and an amazing community," he said. "But, at the same time, it definitely needs it."
The Ball State University Board of Trustees approved the renovation of DeHority on Dec. 15, Alan Hargrave, associate dean of student affairs and director of housing and residence life, said.
"I thought it was a great idea," student trustee and senior Danielle Frazier said. "It gives the university a face-lift."
DeHority is scheduled to close this fall and is expected to reopen summer 2009, Hargrave said. The board approved a budget of $24 million and appointed Schmidt Associates of Indianapolis as the architect, he said.
DeHority opened in 1960 and was most recently remodeled in 1998, according to Ball State's Web site.
It has a reputation for less-than-glamorous living quarters.
"The bathrooms are old and decrepit, there's no air conditioning and no place to eat," Bunner said.
The university has plans to improve these conditions. However, Bunner said he would live in DeHority with the same conditions for at least another year if he could.
"It's just an incredible place because of the people," he said.
Associate Director of Admissions Chris Munchel said renovations like the ones planned for DeHority absolutely help out with new student recruitment.
DeHority's renovations will be comparable to what students asked for with Park Hall: more privacy, greater electric capacity, air conditioning, greater technology, security and good spaces to socialize, Hargrave said. He said he also wants to replace a lot of DeHority's older facilities and improve energy efficiency.
The project is in the early conceptual stages of design, Kevin Shelley, of Schmidt Associates, said. Shelley is project manager for the team of approximately 10 Schmidt architects that will be working on DeHority.
During the design process, they will collaborate with a team of Chicago design consultants, he said. Schmidt Associates will also be responsible for quality control while overseeing construction, Shelley said.
The limitations presented by renovations call for creative ideas sometimes, he said.
"[We have to] find a way to squeeze in new, state-of-the-art systems in a building that was not made for them," Shelley said.
He said the architects are currently working on designing common-use spaces, like lounges, and decentralizing restrooms.
"[The renovations are] very exciting," Hargrave said. "It's another update to our on-campus housing stock."
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