Over the past two years, High Rise North residents have put up with the sights, sounds and effects of construction. There have been workers banging on walls at 9 a.m., regular power and water shutdowns and scaffolds moving up and down outside their windows.
These inconveniences were tolerated with the understanding that a $26.5 million investment would make a better High Rise North for Penn students in years to come. There was talk of a new paint job, new furniture and reinforced walls, all of which would make for a better living experience.
In many ways, High Rise North is a better place to live now than it was several years ago. The front facade of the building is far more attractive, and with newly upholstered furniture and all new windows, the rooms have been improved.
But as with many construction projects on this campus, a laundry list of flaws have marred the project, which was actually completed on schedule.
Many students have been left with leaky air conditioners, shattering heat lamps and shaky plumbing. One room did not have a shower, while another was missing a closet.
These "oversights" are unacceptable for a variety of reasons. But the most glaring reason is that simple laziness on the part of Facilities workers and building managers has left a blemish on the whole process.
It is absurd that High Rise North staffers were unaware of the problems that existed in these rooms, most notably the lack of a shower or closet. These rooms should have been checked prior to students moving in, because these problems could have been rectified.
In addition, the problems with the building reflect poorly on the construction company hired to perform the renovations and even more so on the University itself. Some of these problems are minor, and hitches in the process were inevitable. But in that event, maintenance requests should have been answered promptly, something even house management says was not the case.
These issues in High Rise North must be resolved, and we hope that all parties will do a more thorough job on the other two high rises.
