Residences pilot new entry systems

While Hamilton College House towers as the showpiece of summer renovation, a variety of campus dormitories also saw improvements over the break.

Renovations include new entry systems -- replacing Spectaguard card swipers with pin-entry turnstiles -- into the Quadrangle and Hamilton College House.

Working with the Division of Public Safety, the Department of Housing and Conference Services designed the new systems to facilitate faster residence entry.

Called optical turnstiles, the new entry systems require students to swipe their PennCards and to enter the final four digits of their social security numbers. Spectaguards will remain in place to monitor guest entry.

According to University officials, the use of portals could expand to college houses and graduate residences.

A pilot security system was also installed in Gregory College House. The 65 rooms composing the Class of 1925 portion of Gregory now have door locks operating with PennCards.

"We're piloting... a hotel-type door lock," Berger said. "We do believe these will improve security."

Department of Housing and Conference Services officials said the doors will reduce key replacement and inventory costs.

The new locks are battery-powered -- to retain security in case of power outage -- and will have brass key overrides to accommodate Sabbath observers.

Not as prominent changes and renovations include modernized elevators and dorm kitchens, fresh coats of paint and new security equipment.

"We do other things [besides] large projects," Director of Housing and Conference Services Doug Berger said, noting that facilities are often improved incrementally.

The three elevators in Kings Court/English House were modernized in order to replace what Berger called their "inefficient" predecessors.

New paint, modernized fire safety equipment and cleaned or replaced draperies were used in the renovation of Stouffer College House and Mayer Hall.

"We have new fire detection and suppression," Art History Department Chairman and former College Houses and Academic Services Director David Brownlee said, outlining the new detection and sprinkler system. "We keep our fires suppressed."

Also modernized, 43 DuBois College House kitchen units were upgraded with new stoves, refrigerators, countertops and cabinets.

"They had antiquated kitchen units," Berger said, noting that microwaves were placed in the kitchens for the first time.

Although major renovations were completed in the summer of 2002, the Quadrangle was updated this summer with the addition of two information centers and the relocation of the original information center.

These 24-hour centers offer vacuum rentals, game equipment, SEPTA tokens, stamps and general information.

The Department of Housing and Conference Services itself modernized. Housing offices and CHAS are now located in part of the former Stouffer dining area.

Praising the new space, CHAS spokeswoman Sue Smith said the space meets the goals set for all renovations -- "It's attractive and functional."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.