The University Board of Trustees approved the first part of a dormitory renovation project proposed by University President Judith Rodin at their annual winter meeting yesterday.
On Wednesday, University officials unveiled the six-year renovation plan, which is estimated to cost around $80 million.
The first portion of the plan, projected to cost $26.5 million, entails making significant repairs to Hamilton College House over the next two summers. All work on the three high rises will be done during the summer months so that residents will not be displaced.
This summer, workers will aim to repair the building's elevators, reseal its concrete facade, install sprinklers and fire alarms and improve the landscaping in Hamilton Village.
The proposed projects for the summer of 2003 include installing a new window system throughout the building, painting student rooms and common spaces and replacing furniture in the building.
Administrators stressed that both the renovation plans and the budget allotments are tentative.
"The project management folks down at facilities -- our engineers, architects -- they're basically estimating based on market rates [that] this project should cost $26.5 million," Housing and Conference Services Director Douglas Berger said. "But until we actually get it designed and out there on the streets, that's all that is, is an estimate.
"Until they're swinging off the side of the buildings -- like for concrete, to know how bad it is -- they won't know what its going to cost," Berger continued. "It's an educated guess, really."
The only part of the renovations with a price tag based on hard fact is the elevator upgrade, which will cost $1-2 million. The University is able to forecast what those repairs might cost because an engineering study has already been done.
According to Vice President for Facilities Services and Real Estate Services Omar Blaik, the University has worked up tentative costs for the other projects. The exterior repairs for the building, including the windows, are estimated at $5-6 million, while the sprinkler and fire alarm systems may cost $3-4 million.
The furniture purchases, along with the conversion of office space in Hamilton College House to activity space, will likely cost $5-6 million. Moving the Housing Services offices out of the building could cost $1.5-2 million. The landscaping in Hamilton Village is estimated at nearly $1 million.
The remainder of the $26.5 million number is accounted for by "soft costs," which include design fees, contingency and other professional services.
The money for the renovations will come from an internal capital loan, according to Blaik.
"The debt will be serviced by housing services back to the treasurer's office," Blaik said. "Basically, it is a debt that is being allocated to this particular program."
University Treasurer and Vice President for Finance Craig Carnaroli said the University will take on some temporary external debt through the proposal, but some of it will be paid back through a recently-announced state program that gives financial benefits to schools that install sprinkler systems in dormitories.
"The University will advance funds to business services," Carnaroli said. "As part of their operating budget, they'll have to pay it back to the University."
