Elkton Hall will receive $10 million worth of renovations starting in May. The project includes installing air conditioning in the building.

Nearly 50 years after it was built, Elkton Hall will receive its first facelift this May — one that carries a $10 million price tag.

As part of Facilities Management’s goal of installing air conditioning in 11 North Campus dorms within the next several years — Capital Projects Director Bill Olen could not specify when the project would be complete — crews will install the units in the south side of Elkton this summer. Residents will not be able to enjoy this amenity, however, until fall 2013, when crews will have finished installing air conditioning in all rooms.

The renovation is part of a plan called “High-Rise Residence Hall: AC Phase,” which seeks to improve all North Campus dorms. For Elkton, that means improving the residence hall’s main lobby, installing energy efficient windows, adding new insulation — an upgrade that will create a more sustainable dorm — and providing air conditioning throughout the entire building.

Elkton Hall is the last dorm in the Denton Community to receive the upgrade. Last summer, Facilities Management crews installed air conditioning units in Denton and Easton Halls, which each cost about $10 million, Olen said.

Officials said they decided to allocate the funds for the renovations after receiving multiple complaints about the quality of some of the campus’ oldest dorms.

“We’ve heard from students over time that they’d love to have air conditioning,” North Campus Associate Director Amy Martin said, adding that “this allows us to hold more activities in the summer time as well.”

While some Elkton residents said they don’t believe the renovation is needed, the air conditioning will be a welcome addition for future students.

“Elkton seemed fine without air conditioning,” sophomore engineering major Nick Downey said. “It’s not as bad as people think … but with air conditioning it will be a lot better.”

With Oakland Hall sitting next to the Denton Community dorms, Martin said, it seemed only natural to renovate the neighboring halls.

“The main reason we ended up going there was with the building of Oakland,” Martin said. “All of the cooling units are in the basement of Oakland.”

Some Denton students said air conditioning made for a more comfortable living situation.

“It’s definitely better compared to dorms that don’t have air conditioning,” sophomore animal science major Connie Brinks said.

But Elkton’s renovation won’t be the last. Officials will also begin renovating dorms in the Cambridge Community this summer and the Ellicott Community in the coming years.

And although the projects may seem ambitious and clustered together, Olen said, so far the department is on schedule and operating within its budget.

When the projects are completed, Martin said, she hopes students will enjoy improved residence halls.

“For the student experience overall, I think it definitely makes a difference,” she said.

amenabar@umdbk.com