The Pilgrim’s Protest

By Amy Roberts
Trucks have been coming in and out, piles of lumber appear and disappear, a roof is up and brick walls are gone. The renovations of Memorial Hall are nearing completion. I sat down with longtime friend of CIU, David Ratchford, overseer of the project and general contractor Don Blackstone to discuss the project. Memorial has been rebuilt from the walls out, and new residents will find a home they can comfortably settle into.
Some of the most important renovations will not be seen. The asbestos has been removed, and all new electrical and plumbing has been put in. New HVAC systems will be installed, and both hardwire and wireless internet have been updated.
The student rooms will have a new look. The old built-in cabinets have been removed. Each room will now have a sink, microwave and refrigerator. The furniture will be modular, so that each room can be rearranged to meet the needs of the roommates. New windows will provide a clear view to the world outside. The floors will be tiled, with carpet in the hallways. Four new dorm rooms have been created from the rooms in the stairwells. The stairwells themselves will have a great new look. They will be air-conditioned, with new treads and flooring, and a pickled treatment on the bricks to tone down the “pink” color. The bathrooms will be completely retiled, and have all new toilets, sinks, and showers. The bathtubs have been removed and a new exhaust system added (good news for everyone).
The first floor will look much nicer. The lobby will be larger, able to hold meetings for the residents. The area that is presently the doorway will be enclosed and added to the lobby. The doors will now open straight out from the lobby. They will be opened by an electronic card system, similar to hotels. The first floor will be handicap accessible including the bathrooms. The walls will be smoothcoated and tray lighting will be featured in the hallways. The laundry room has been moved to the first floor and will be more like a lounge, with plans for comfortable seating and a TV.
The front façade of the Memorial Hall will have a new look as well. The stone wall will be removed and new windows and a trellis installed. The front walkway will be covered to protect residents from the rain and to provide shade. The parking lot will be removed to allow for more green space for the campus.
CIU plans to have it open for a tour at graduation, and for all the renovations to be completed by June. Don Blackstone, the general contractor, and his crew have found working at CIU to be a joy. He had praise for everyone he has worked with, from administration to Jeff and his team in the cafeteria. “The wives are complaining that their husbands aren’t eating at home, since they fill up at the cafeteria”, he joked. We all look forward to seeing their hard work completed, and having a modern dormitory for the students to enjoy. I guess the only downside is that the pitched roof will mean that no one’s furniture can end up on the roof of Memorial.