When University officials announced an $80 million plan in February to upgrade all three high rises, it seemed like a noble cause. The buildings had far exceeded their projected life spans and were in desperate need of renovations, to say the least.
While many wondered if the new project would ever get off the ground -- the initial plan for high rise renovations, developed in 1998 as part of a comprehensive dormitory overhaul, was scrapped due to a lack of funding -- work on Hamilton College House began as planned this past summer.
The "noisy work" on the building's exterior has now been completed, and soon, the focus will shift to the building's interior. Sprinklers have already been installed in every room, and there are plans to replace the building's windows, a measure that is long overdue.
But as workers continue to scale the building each morning to resurface the exterior, it seems as though Penn has, to some extent, misplaced its emphasis. Many building residents would gladly exchange the planned additions of a new fitness facility and music practice rooms for an upgrade in living conditions.
The biggest problems with the high rises lie within the rooms themselves. The walls are paper thin, and it appears that the kitchens and bathrooms have remained untouched since the buildings first opened more than 30 years ago.
The University allotted approximately $5 million to replace furniture in the rooms, a process that will take place this summer. But aside from swapping a few chairs, repainting the walls and re-upholstering the couches, it seems, unfortunately, little will be done to make the rooms more livable.
There are obvious reasons to make the buildings more visually appealing. There are even better reasons, though, to focus on overhauling the rooms themselves before tackling the buildings' facades.
As more and more students flee to live in off-campus apartments, the University should be doing all it can to make its own facilities more appealing. New chairs and better couches are only the first step.
Penn must make a more concerted effort to improve the quality of its dorm rooms if the high rises are ever to be considered "upgraded." For now, the landscaping can wait.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.