The North Quadrangle held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony Feb. 8 to celebrate the building's renovations.
Speakers at the ceremony included Dr. Michael Maggiotto, dean of the college of sciences and humanities, president Dr. Jo Ann Gora and Hollis Hughes, president of the board of trustees.
The renovations included 18,000 square feet of new classroom and office space and 2,300 square feet of additional offices and restrooms.
Dick Moake, the chief architect of the project, said one of the most important renovations of the project was to figure out a better way of internal circulation for students and faculty. He added that they tried to maintain the historical integrity of the building.
North Quadrangle houses most of the departments in the college of sciences and humanities as well as the advising center. Because of this, Gora said, thousands of students use the building.
"To renovate it and make it more beautiful and more accessible was critically important to us," she said.
The renovation to North Quadrangle is a part of the university's master plan, along with several other buildings including the Student Recreation and Wellness Center, Scheumann Stadium and the Letterman Communication and Media Building. Over the last seven years, the board of trustees has approved $418 million in renovation projects.
"We have lots of new facilities on campus but we have continuous needs to take a look at some of the older structures and make sure that they are capable of providing instruction that's vital for the next generation," Hughes said. "The renovation of this building takes a building that was functional but complicated to use."
Even Gora told a story during her speech of how she got lost in North Quadrangle during her first month as president and how embarrassed she was. She said she was glad when she was told they were going to improve the accessibility of the building. Maggiotto made a joke in his speech, saying that you can not get from here to there without having to go outside the building.
Gora said the project was finished on schedule and on budget.
The renovations took place from May 2010 to December 2011. Because these changes were taking place during parts of the school year, Moake and his staff had to work around that.
"It's like trying to tie your shoes while you're running," he said.
Maggiotto said he is thankful for the students and faculty who put up with the minor inconveniences because they are worth it.
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