Studebaker East will close in May for renovations following the end of this semester.
Alan Hargrave, director of Housing and Residence Life, said the renovations will be a continuation of the plan to renew and upgrade on-campus residential facilities.
He said Schmidt Associates has been hired as the architecture firm, but the renovation plans are still in the early stages and few details have been worked out. The rooms will have air-conditioning and the elevators will be modified to service each floor.
Interim Director of Facilities Planning Greg Graham said Studebaker East has undergone slight updates and upgrades throughout the years, but it has never gone through a major renovation like the one that is being planned.
'[The renovations] will probably be similar to DeHority [Complex's renovations],' he said. 'But it's not like we're tearing a chunk off and putting in a huge addition.'
Graham said the university has a rough estimate of the budget, but no details have been worked out because they've only met with the architects once.
Hargrave said the renovations are expected to take about two years to complete and Studebaker East should be ready to reopen for the Fall 2012 semester.
He said the opening of Kinghorn Hall should ensure that there won't be a housing shortage while the residence hall is closed.
'We're opening Kinghorn Hall, which will hold 600 beds, whereas Stu East holds 440,' he said.
Hargrave said there are no other plans to renovate any of the other residence halls before Studebaker East reopens in 2012.
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