by JESSIE LOVELACE
Intern News Reporter

Renovations to Cone Residence Hall may begin sooner than expected.

Housing and Residence Life Director Thomas L. Kane said Appalachian State University planned to renovate the building as part of an extensive construction project, which includes changes to surrounding buildings.

Changes to Cone, however, will now take place during the next academic year.

Frank Residence Hall is currently under construction. Following its completion, Cone Residence Hall will begin renovations in May 2009 to reopen by July 2010. Photo by Rachel Noel

“The good news about the project is that we’ve been given the go-ahead to start working on the Cone Hall renovation with the goal to close it in May of 2009 and reopen it in July of 2010,” Kane said.

“We should have been doing this two months ago, but because of various factors we didn’t think we were going to do this project until either 2010-11 or 2011-12.”

Boone Town Council denied Appalachian’s rezoning request on Aug. 21.

Because of the denial, Kane said, “We are trying to expedite [the project] and get it into the 2009-10 cycle.”

Director of Administrative Support Services Tommy F. Wright said Cone is going to be renovated with energy sustainability in mind.

“We are still early in regards to details of renovation plans,” Wright said. “We have done a feasibility study.”

Kane said the university will have to submit paperwork to the state first.

“We’re going to know in the next 60 to 90 days whether we’re going to be able to move forward with this,” said Kane.

The next step, Kane said, would be to hire an architect to work between now and March to design the project.

Then a contractor would be hired to begin working when Cone closes in May 2009, he said.

“That’s quick, but we’re hopeful because the economy is tight right now that there will be architects that will be interested in moving that fast, and there will be contractors that will be looking for work,” Kane said.

Wright said Frank Residence Hall, which is currently under renovation, would reopen when Cone closes.

He said the university would apply energy saving systems in renovating Cone, based on a point system designed by the U.S. Green Building Council. 

Wright said improvements to the building will include water saving flush valves, energy saving light sensors, more windows for natural light, and wireless Internet.

“It will be a similar renovation to what we did in Cannon [Residence Hall], not the same, but similar,” Kane said. “For sure it will involve both interior and exterior changes to the building.”

Elliott T. Coleman, sophomore music industries major is in favor of the project.

“Cone will be more beneficial to the student body once it is renovated, helping not only students but the environment as well,” he said.

Kane said the overall construction plan also includes a reconstruction of Coffey Residence Hall, a new classroom building in place of the Fine and Applied Arts Office, and an addition to Plemmons Student Union.

The project is called The Living Learning Center and Center for Student Excellence, Kane said.

The university is hoping to complete the project by 2012.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Show/Hide comments