For one thing, the $250,000 renovation of West Street will be done. John Miller, director of WPI's physical plant, is currently chairing a committee of students, faculty, and staff whose mission it is to draw up plans for the renovation. Nothing has, as of yet, been set in stone, but final plans should be announced sometime late this term or early in D-term.
Another big project will be the renovation of Sanford-Riley Hall, which will begin immediately after classes end, according to Kris Neindorf of Residential Services. Plans include installation of an elevator on the Daniels-side of the building, and replacement of all windows, furniture, and carpet in the hall. Unfortunately, in order to do the work required on the windows, it appears the legendary ivy will be torn down. For all it's beauty, the ivy has infiltrated the mortar between the bricks of the building and, since minor work is planned on the mortar and front entrance, the ivy will be cut away from the building. The ivy won't be the only thing being displaced. Residential Services predicts the loss of twelve bed spaces to the elevator shaft, and the Newspeak office will be moved across the hall into an office currently occupied by Plant Services personnel. Come August, however, Sanford-Riley will look great, and students moving in will be more than pleased with the improvements.
Salisbury Labs will undergo a $1.8 million dollar renovation this summer, although the exact details were not available at the time of this printing.
Other projects planned for the not-so-distant future include renovation of Daniels and Morgan Halls, as well as some major work on the Ellsworth-Fuller Apartments. The original intent for the apartments was that they would be temporary, with a life of only twenty years, but they have proved useful to the Institute which most likely cannot afford to demolish the buildings and build dormitories on the land. Instead, the apartments will be renovated. New kitchens and bathrooms will be installed, as well as better ventilation systems, carpet and furniture.
No one is certain at this time which of these projects will begin in the Summer of 97, but it is likely that the apartments will need their face-lift before Daniels and Morgan Halls.
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