The University System of Maryland approved a $10 million renovation of Dorchester Hall in July, slated to begin in December 2017.
Dorchester Hall, which is a part of the North Hill Community, was last renovated in 1992. The renovation is anticipated to take nine months — from December 2017 to August 2018 — in time for the students to move in for the fall 2018 semester. It will be closed and will not hold residents in the during renovations.
The hall currently houses the Global Communities living-learning program. It’s a four-story, coed, traditional style hall with about 168 residents. The residence hall is fully air-conditioned with a study lounge, a multipurpose room and a laundry room on the ground floor, according to the Department of Resident Life website.
The renovation of Dorchester Hall will be similar to the renovation of Cambridge Hall, which recently opened this semester. Specifically, the renovation will include expanded restrooms, more study spaces, LED lighting, gender-neutral single-use restrooms and new window replacements.
“The renovation will allow higher-energy efficiency standards and better living conditions for students,” said junior marketing major Helen Liu, who also serves as the Residence Hall Association public relations and outreach officer.
The goal is to “create engagement and a good community among students,” said Brian Snyder, associate director of projects for the Department of Residential Facilities. “We want to develop lifelong bonds [between residents].”
As of now, a renovation kick-off meeting has been held with an architect, Snyder said. Moving forward, the plan will go through several phases of design. The DRF will hire a construction manager to help with the budget, feasibility and value engineering, ensuring they get the most out of their money without cost overruns. Once the project begins construction, the construction manager will take the lead.
Residence Hall renovations must be approved by the University System of Maryland.
“Funding for major capital improvement projects to USM institutions, be it UM College Park or another campus, typically require approval first from the USM Board of Regents Finance Committee and then the full Board of Regents,” wrote Mike Lurie, the system’s media relations and web manager, in an email.
For the next 15 months, the DRF will be coordinating the renovation project.
“We’re excited about starting another renovation, hopefully building off the momentum from Cambridge Hall,” Snyder said. “We’re looking forward to it.”
