The kitchen in Pressly dormitory is updated with new cabinets and appliances
Erskine Dorm Renovations on Schedule
Erskine College Vice President for Finance and Operations Bill Stauff says this summer's dorm renovations, which cost more than $3.5 million and included extensive work on Carnegie Dormitory for freshman women and Pressly Dormitory for men, are on schedule, on budget, and nearly complete. Freshmen arrive on campus Aug. 27 and fall classes begin Sept. 2.
"The crucial milestone we had to reach was last Tuesday, which was the delivery and setup of the dorm furniture," said Stauff. "This means we will be ready for the students."
Stauff noted that no special difficulties or budget problems were encountered this summer. "We thought this year would be the toughest, doing Carnegie, but to our surprise it was far easier," said Stauff. The Carnegie project added an annex to the building, which will be used by the women's softball team, and also focused on preserving and restoring Carnegie's historic character.
Stauff attributes this summer's success to several key participants, as well as to the overall efforts of the construction crew.
"The contractors worked like a team, working 12-hour days, weekends, and some second shifts to ensure the job was done on time. They were really proud of their work," said Stauff.
"The dedication of Junior McClain, our facilities director, and his ability to coordinate not only the contractors but his staff at crucial stages during the construction process ensured the timeliness and quality of the finished product," Stauff said. "William McCoy, our on-site engineer, helped with the contractors, bidding process, inspections and county building personnel."
The special expertise and attention required for the renovation of Carnegie, supplied by renovation planning committee member Linda Chesnut of Atlanta, whose husband David is an Erskine graduate, Erskine Dean of Students Dr. Robyn Agnew, and others, was important to the project, Stauff said.
"They led the way in the historical preservation aspect of the Carnegie project," he said. "They were very successful in picking out the right colors, restoring the antique furnishings, and bringing back the historic aspects of the building like transom windows, dentiled work and original floors."
Stauff said incoming freshmen on campus for the student and parent pre-orientation program Aug. 3 got a look at the dorms, including Carnegie. "We set up a finished room for them to view," he said. "Various visiting students have also seen the dorms during the construction process when Admissions has conducted tours."
"The renovation work on Bonner, Grier and Pressly has been great – we've been very pleased," said Agnew. "But in Carnegie, because of the age of the building, the changes are even more apparent.
"It is a wonderful transformation," Agnew said. "The best part is we not only renovated but restored. It has a contemporary feel with air conditioning and windows, but also the charm of 1907, when Carnegie was built, with the chandeliers and period furniture. We have the best of both worlds."
Agnew said that in all the residence hall renovations, "community building" was an important factor. "We created lobby space on the second and third floors of the dorms," she said. "When we had the focus groups with the students, this was one of the things they wanted."
Erskine Vice President for Student Services and Athletics Monty Wooley was given a tour of the dorms this week. "I don't believe that anything in my 24 years at Erskine has done so much to change the face of Erskine College in such a short time as the dormitory renovations," said Wooley. Erskine completed renovations on Bonner, a women's residence hall, and Grier Dormitory, for freshman men, during the summer of 2001.
"We are looking forward to next summer already as we plan to renovate Kennedy and Robinson," said Stauff. "In addition to completing Carnegie and Pressly this summer we were able to squeeze in several other projects related to Kennedy and Robinson.
"We completed the Robinson parking lot and turnaround, replaced windows in both dorms, completed a new bathroom and handicap ramp in Kennedy and did some other construction work in Robinson," Stauff said. "This will make it easier for us next summer."
"After we complete Robinson and Kennedy next year, we will have the quality of living conditions for our students on a par with the quality of the education they receive at Erskine," said Wooley. "Both are exceptional."
.
