TOWERS RENOVATION KICKED OFF

Decked out in hard hat and safety goggles, Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup delivered the first blow during a ceremonial "wall bashing" at a campus dormitory Wednesday.

The "wall bashing" marked the official start of the major renovation of the high-rise dormitory.

Stroup and other university officials, student leaders and representatives of Sverdrup Corp. a St. Louis-based architectural firm involved with the construction project participated in the ceremony on the fourth floor of the Towers West residence hall. They took turns breaking out a chunk of a masonry wall with chrome-plated, 3-pound sledgehammers.

At a press conference in the Towers West lobby prior to the "wall bashing," Stroup said the construction project involving an $11 million renovation of Towers West and North dormitories will result in a better living and learning environment for students.

"A residence hall is more than just room and board," Stroup said at the press conference, which was attended by about 30 people. She maintained "there is a lot be learned" from living on campus.

Brad Simmons, Sverdrup project manager, said the goal of the project is to remodel the out-of-date residence halls, eliminating the old "cells and bells" look in favor of "more personalized" student suites.

The press conference and "wall bashing" followed action by the university's Board of Regents last November, approving the concept of refinancing existing revenue bonds to finance the project.

In December, the board approved conceptual design plans for renovation of the two residence halls. In February, the regents awarded the construction management contract to Sverdrup.

The estimated cost of renovating Towers West is $5.5 million. A similar amount will be spent on renovation of Towers North, university officials said.

Simmons said asbestos removal work will begin in June, with "fast-track" construction work to commence by July.

"These are cosmetic upgrades, which makes these (residence halls) more marketable," said Simmons.

The 12-story structure will be closed for 10 to 12 months. Students normally living in the residence hall have been relocated to other dormitories.

Plans call for reopening Towers West in May 1994. Towers North, a similar 12-story structure, will then be closed for renovations. All the renovation work is expected to be completed by May 1995.

The two high-rise buildings part of a four-tower complex opened in 1967. The complex was built in what was a muddy, low-lying area known as "the home of the birds" because of the millions of blackbirds that used to roost in the old orchard.

At the time they were built, they were the tallest buildings in Cape Girardeau. The entire complex cost nearly $8 million to build, which is less than the cost of renovating just two of the towers.