Topic: $6 Million for Smith Hall renovation

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http://www.marshallparthenon.com/news/2005/04/21/News/6.Million.For.Smith.Hall.Facelift-933221.shtml

$6 million for Smith Hall facelift
By E. Kirsten King
Published: Thursday, April 21, 2005


Smith Hall might look different when students return in the fall.

Marshall has received $6 million from the sale of lottery bonds to pay for renovations in the building.

"We have already completed two or three floors," Herb Karlet, senior vice president of finance and administration, said. "This money will allow us to complete that project and replace the heating, ventaliation and air conditioning system."

He said the lighting on each floor is also being replaced, and new furniture will also be placed on each floor.

Work is scheduled to begin on the second and third floors this summer.

"We are going to try to make the classrooms more attractive and more usable for students," Sarah Den-man, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, said.

She said nearly 600 new desks will be placed in 18 general purpose classrooms in Smith Hall.

The desks will cost about $140,000.

Furniture in specialty classrooms and offices will not be replaced.

"We are hoping the $6 million in lottery bonds will complete the project because we have three years to draw down the money," Karen Kirtley, associate vice president for administration, said.

She said the fourth floor has been completed, and the maintenance has been completed on the sixth floor.

Approximately $450,000 has been spent on the project so far.

"The $6 million is very important to getting Smith Hall back to where it needs to be," Karlet said. "Smith was built in 1967 and the money for the renovations is very important to the long-range functioning of the building."

He said $2 million of the lottery bond sale will go to repairs for Harris Hall.

The main thing that will be worked on in Harris is the HVAC system.

"We just wish that we could do it for every building," Denman said. "If we can complete this project then we can start saving money for furniture in other buildings."

Karlet said he was not aware of any problems in other buildings. He said they hope to replace the windows in Smith Hall eventually, but it would be about a $2 million project and right now they do not have the funding.