East Laville Hall renovations are on schedule and under budget, according to Steve Waller, director of Residential Life.
The construction, which is slated to be complete in April 2012, will add 337 beds to the on-campus housing inventory next fall, Waller said. With the addition of Kirby-Smith Hall's 350 beds at the beginning of the semester in August and the anticipated addition of Residential College One – North Hall and its 358 beds, ResLife will have added more than 1,000 beds to the housing inventory in two years.
State legislators approved the East Laville project's originally estimated cost of $19 million, Waller said. But because of an economic downturn and a drop in construction costs, the project is expected to cost only $14 million, he said.
The costs of the project are broken down into $13 million for construction and $1 million for demolition and disposal.
Waller said finishing under budget has been the norm for ResLife since 2007.
"We saw costs go down from $250 per square foot to $230 to about $150 as the economy turned," Waller said.
Unlike the changes made at West Laville Hall, renovations at East Laville extended beyond superficial improvements.
The hall has been completely gutted, and walls, ceilings, floors, study rooms and common areas will be rebuilt, said ResLife Communications Manager Jay High.
High said East Laville's improvements will also include central heating and air with controls in student rooms.
"East Laville will be the residence of the Honors House," High said. "West Laville will house Honors College students and non-Honors College students if it does not completely fill with honors students."
The renovation also covers the lobby area connecting East and West Laville halls. The central lobby will serve both buildings and feature a courtyard and patio, Waller said. The second floor will be a faculty residence for the Residential College system, Waller said.
Waller said the renovations are part of an orchestrated, decade-long plan that has greatly benefited from the recent "construction climate."
After the completion of the East Laville and Residential College North projects, the next residence hall to undergo major renovations will be Annie Boyd Hall, Waller said.
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Contact Paul Braun at pbraun@lsureveille.com
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