The new Commons renovations will offer residents amenities such as better community space, new furniture and updated laundry facilities.
“The dorms are slated to re-open fall 2012,” said Associate Director of Housing Services, Brian Davis.
“These newly renovated spaces will provide our incoming freshmen students an excellent introduction to life at Mason,” said Davis.
This coincides with an effort by the Office of Housing and Residence Life to make the housing selection process friendlier to underclassmen.
The renovations in the Commons will make the facilities more efficient and safe. This includes better temperature control, a fire alarm/suppression system and electrical systems, according to the Mason Facilities website.
“The students can expect some great things happening in the newly renovated Hanover building,” Davis said.
Hanover is a community building in the Commons that features student lounges, a vending area and a common kitchen.
The spaces themselves will feature more modern furniture, renovated common rooms and new carpet. Residents will also have more laundry facilities.
According to Facilities, the project was authorized in July 2010 and construction was slated to being in February of this year.
However, construction has already started. “The total cost of the construction to Commons is expected to be approximately $12 million,” Davis said. This is on track budget with the planned cost.
The capacity for the Commons will be 492 beds. “The residents who lived there last fall were moved to the newly constructed Rogers and Whitetop for the spring semester,” Davis said.
The opening of the Commons will allow students to select Rogers and Whitetop in the housing selection for fall 2012, according to the OHRL website.
Since students can no longer retain their housing, current residents will have to choose their dorm again during the housing selection. Whitetop features suite-style dorms, and Rogers is made up of apartments.
Originally constructed in 1986, the residential halls of the Commons were in need of renovation. The university is also fitting them to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines, according to the Facilities website. The ADA was passed four years after the residential halls of the Commons were erected.
With all the upgrades to residential halls plus the near-constant construction of new buildings, Davis is optimistic about the future of Mason. “This is truly an exciting time to be at Mason,” he said.
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