Gerard Hall sets standard for future dormitories

After 11 weeks of construction and a $1.4 million investment, the Gerard Hall dormitory renovations have been officially completed, according to the Facilities Operations chief administrative officer.

"The construction work started the day after commencement," said David Magida, chief administrative officer of Facilities Operations. "We knew exactly what we were going to accomplish with Gerard."

Facilities Operations was given the job of finishing construction in 11 weeks, the amount of time "between when the students leave (for the summer) and when the first students come back," Magida said.

Included in the list of renovations were adding new shower stalls to the bathrooms, a complete hallway paneling overhaul, new ceilings, new furniture and new flooring for the entire building.

Many of the same elements used in the construction of South Hall, the newest civilian dormitory, were used for Gerard Hall.

When South Hall was built, Facilities Operations "learned a lot about good, strong materials that are very attractive," Magida said. "We wanted to use a lot of those materials that are tough, attractive and easier to clean."

Reducing the amount of upkeep required for a dormitory was among one of the many reasons Gerard Hall was renovated, according to Magida.

"Even with the most careful, cautious students, a building (like Gerard) takes a lot of wear and tear," Magida said. Floors no longer have to be refinished; the total time it takes for the Facilities Operations staff to complete their jobs has been reduced.

Less noise thanks to floor buffers means fewer disruptions, according to Magida. "For the students living in the building, we're going to be a lot less disruptive. We're going to be doing less work, with less equipment and less chemicals."

"We find that for the most part our students are very respectful of our buildings. We find that the nicer we make the building, the more care they take of it," Magida said. Student well-being and building atmosphere were two of the main focuses when Gerard was being redone.

 "(The change) makes me more at ease and less stressful so I can concentrate more on my academics," said Kara Son, a 21-year-old senior biochemistry major from Bridgewater, Mass.

Students look forward to coming back to their rooms, now that renovations are completed. "I feel happy when I come to a room that appears clean, and I don't mind walking around barefoot," Son said.

According to Alexander Mullin, a 21-year old senior business management major from Lunenburg, Mass., "(The renovations) look sharp, and clean. The wood paneling on the walls (makes) it feel more like someplace I (want) to be."

Students are pleased with the renovation Gerard Hall underwent over the summer months."(The renovations) up morale for the people that live in it," Mullin said.

Building longevity was not the only reason for the summer change.

"We do want to have buildings be tough, hardy, but we want them to be attractive," Magida said. "When students walk in there they say, ‘I like this place, it feels comfortable'."

Mullin, who lives in "the bowels, or basement of Gerard," found the changes to be "refreshing, rather than coming back to a dorm with marks on the walls," or damage done by previous students.

Taking some of the burden of student life off of the Gerard Hall residents was a major focus of the renovations.

"The showers were something that was definitely needed. Living with 50 guys on a floor, it helps speed things up in the morning," said Matthew Allard, a 22-year-old senior history major from New Britain, Conn. Prior to the change, the bathrooms had two shower stalls, as compared to the four they have now.

Along with the bathrooms, all of the furniture fixtures in the building were completely replaced.

Some students, like Allard, had desks "that were 20 years old," and the building was "due for some new stuff." The buildings should see updates more often than every 20 years, according to Allard.

"The wood paneling, new floor surfaces, added shower stalls, and a new toilet, make it look less like it did before (the renovations). Aesthetically, it's much better looking," said Robert Johnson, a 23-year-old senior history major from Pheonixville, Pa.

Prior to the upgrade, Magida said, "Gerard was looking tired. It was time to take it to the next level." For all prior and planned upgrades, outside contractors were hired.

General contractor E.F. Wall was the main force behind the renovations, according to Magida. Based out of Barre, Vt., E.F. Wall hired "several sub-contractors, such as electricians, plumbers," and experts for the flooring and painting jobs.

"We need to stay current with the materials, and we learned from various consultants, engineers, and trade shows," Magida said. Testing the systems was a major concern in the renovation plan.

Different amounts of testing were done with South Hall and other refurbishing tasks, according to Magida. "If we're going to spend millions of dollars on something, we're going to make sure we test it first, before we go to the larger projects."

An example is the introduction of the new door lock system on the main floor of Gerard Hall.

"(The new electronic door locks) are something we want to roll out to all of the dorms. For the safety and security of the students and their belongings, the commandant and the dean of students would like to eventually roll out to all of the dorms," Magida stated.

Opinions on the new key-card system among residents are mixed.

"I'm not exactly sure how the key card system is going to affect us. That's one of my main concerns right now," Mullin said.

If the buildings remain inaccessible to students with sensitive or time-critical information, it will hinder communication, according to Mullin.

"I don't see any problem with using keys. If something isn't broken, why fix it," Son said.

However, some students find the door change to be a lifted burden.

"(Not having multiple keys) makes it easier, just so you don't have to carry a lot of keys," Allard said. "A lot of kids didn't have their keys, and they were going to the guard shack to get them to open their doors."

Continuous upgrade of the dormitories is a priority for the president and trustees, according to Magida. "The students deserve the quality of Gerard Hall."

All the changes "give people more time to do everything, extracurricular activities, academics, and just more down time in general," Mullin said.

"The place that you live in should be inviting, well kept, and clean. I hope the students in Gerard find it to be all of those things," Magida said.