Eisenlohr Hall renovations near completion

Within 10 days, renovations to University President Judith Rodin's new home will be completed, Vice President for Facilities Management Arthur Gravina said last night. And by the end of the semester, Rodin will leave her current off-campus residence at 21st and Delancy streets and moves to Eisenlohr Hall, the traditional home of the University president located at 3812 Walnut Street. "We are just about done with the president's project," Gravina said. "The president will move in when it is done." Yesterday afternoon, workers began moving Eisenlohr's furniture back into the home. Lights were on both inside and outside and the gate was open yesterday evening, indicating that the house is practically ready for its new occupants. But the "Deferred Maintenance" sign still stands in the front yard. "We're moving the furniture back in," one worker said yesterday. "We're nearly done and we're going to be moving her in soon." Gravina said the furniture was taken out of the house when the maintenance first began to "protect all of the antiques." Renovations began in mid-August when the University hired Unkefer Brothers of Philadelphia to complete the project. At the time, administrators estimated that the University would spend more than $800,000 on the project. In September, Interim Executive Vice President Jack Freeman said the full repairs and renovations could take a long time, even lasting until early spring. "It is hard to predict," Freeman said at the time. The repairs include overhauling the heating and cooling system, with pipe removal and thermostat additions. Asbestos surrounding the old pipes was also removed from the house. In addition, contractors repaired the roof and painted the inside of the house and the outside window trim. Some of the renovations are associated with the change in residents of the home. Unlike former Interim President Claire Fagin and former President Sheldon Hackney, Rodin will bring a family to Eisenlohr, including her husband, son and stepson. To reflect that, changes were made to the third floor of Eisenlohr to create living quarters where storage space once existed. Eisenlohr has not been renovated since Hackney moved in to the residence in 1981. Rodin was out of town and unavailable for comment.

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