The Llama Ledger - Bard College at Simon's Rock's Student Newspaper

Issue date: 8/16/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Emma Tucker Kendrick House no longer has balconies.

Media Credit: Emma Tucker The atrium of Kendrick has undergone massive renovation.

Media Credit: Emma Tucker The main entrance of the dorm has been renovated.

The highly anticipated renovation of Kendrick House took place this summer and will be finished by the time students return to campus. "After a very hectic summer," says Director of Physical Plant Steve Carignan, "we're very hopeful."

Students will be able to move in on Aug. 18 when Orientation begins. "They'll be finishing up to the day before," says Carignan, "right up to the wire."

The cost estimate is somewhere between $1.7-1.8 million, according to Carignan.

Kendrick has gone through an extensive renovation in a very short amount of time. There is a new floor plan, as well as new mechanical and electrical plan. Heating is computerized, windows are upgraded and there is a "very complicated energy control system," says Carignan of the lighting. The building is now also ventilated.

One of the reasons for the renovation was the issue of fire safety, but Carignan assures that the building is now completely up to date. The decision to remove the balconies was a result of these safety issues, according to Carignan.

The suites were pushed out into the balconies, which provides an interior corridor. "This corridor allows people to get out without going through the atrium," says Carignan. "There wasn't much of a choice when it came to the balconies, it was just part of the redesign of the building."

The bathrooms have been completely renovated, according to Carignan. "You wouldn't even recognize them. They are completely new with new stalls, et cetera." They now resemble the Hill House bathrooms in style.

"The building has also become eco-friendly. According to Carignan, "quite a few of the products are green," and they now use recyclable materials as opposed to fiberglass.

Despite all these renovations, and the housing crunch the school is currently undergoing, the building still holds the fifty-six people it has always held, Carignan says.

Plans have been set in place for a Crosby House renovation next summer and Foster House (the Mods) is being evaluated as well. The Drab Avenue project has recently been approved and construction is beginning very shortly.

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Contact the author: etucker@llamaledger.com

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