Southeast renovating residence halls

Southeast Missouri State University has engaged in its own "Extreme Makeover" this summer, making major renovations to some of its residence halls.

Unlike television's popular home remodeling show, most of the work has been away from public view inside the buildings.

School officials said the $2.1 million project will make the residence halls safer and more comfortable for students.

"We believe these renovations are going to greatly enhance our residence halls," said Dr. Kelly Burris-Wesener, director of residence life, which manages campus housing.

Much of the construction work is in the 12-story Towers South residence hall, where rooms are being equipped with more modern, movable furniture and new beds and mattresses. Renovations also are being made to the bathrooms. New carpet will be installed in the hallways and in the student lounges, said Bruce Skinner, associate director of Southeast's residence life office.

Some of the furniture being replaced dates back to when the high-rise dormitory complex opened in 1967, school officials said.

The shower renovations include replacing shower curtains with shower stalls and private changing areas. "It is not the same as having their own bathroom at home, but it is increased privacy," Skinner said.

Dane Huxel, president of student government at Southeast, said the improvements are needed. Two years ago as a freshman, Huxel, of Washington, Mo., lived in Towers South. He remembers that "it was a little bit of a shock" moving into an old dorm room.

The improvements will please students, said Huxel, who now lives in Towers West. Towers West underwent renovations a decade ago.

"It is definitely going to give it a new feeling, a lot better atmosphere," he said.

The improvements in Towers South also include a building-wide sprinkler system. Southeast plans to install within the next several years sprinkler systems in the remaining four residence halls that don't have such systems to extinguish fires, Skinner said.

"It is often overlooked, but sprinkler systems are an important step in continuing to improve the safety and security of our residence hall students," he said.

Towers East will get a similar interior makeover next summer, he said.

Replacing Towers East roof

Work is underway to replace the flat roof on Towers East and similar roof replacement work will begin soon on Towers North. The two buildings are among the four high-rise residence halls that make up the Towers complex.

Skinner said the roofs have been patched and repaired over the past four decades. "What we are doing is going in and removing all of the patchwork and putting something brand new down," he said.

Also being upgraded this summer are Dearmont and Cheney halls, which are being outfitted with new room and lounge furniture. Towers North, West and East buildings are being upgraded with new lounge furnishings.

Paric Construction of St. Louis is the general contractor on the project, which began in May following the end of the spring semester. Skinner said the work should be completed by Aug. 10, nine days before freshmen move into the residence halls for the fall semester.

In all, Southeast houses about 2,600 students in nine residence halls.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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