|
 |
For Immediate Release
June 28, 2007 - King's College will begin two major renovation projects and an addition to the Scandlon Physical Education Center this summer as it continues its program of campus and north Wilkes-Barre improvement projects. The College is also preparing to welcome the largest incoming first-year class of students this fall in its 61-year history. This fall's first-year class, which follows record incoming classes in 2005 and 2006, will be in excess of 500 students. The largest project is an $8 million renovation of Holy Cross Hall, the primary men's residence hall. The project, the most comprehensive in the 12-story building's 41-year-history, will occur in stages over 15 months. A triple room with a semi-private bathroom will be added on floors two through ten. The eleventh floor will consist entirely of double rooms with semi-private bathrooms. The twelfth floor will be a common area for the hall residents, including lounge/classroom space and a chapel. The new layout will result in additional capacity at the end of the project. The building will receive new lighting and windows. Student lounges will be upgraded, air conditioning will be added and the lobby will be completely refurbished. The exterior of the building will be cleaned. Work on the project will begin in late May. Lobby renovations are expected to be completed by August. The lower half of the building (floors one through six) will be renovated during the fall semester. The College has contracted with Ramada Plaza Hotel on Public Square to house approximately 175 upperclass students during the 2007-08 academic year. These students will be accompanied by five student members of the King's College Residence Life staff as well as three adult resident counselors. The final phase of the project, involving floors seven through twelve, will occur during the spring semester. Each semester, students will occupy the half of the building not under renovation. Holy Cross Hall is expected to be available for the complete occupancy at the beginning of the 2008-09 academic year. The Scandlon Physical Education Center will undergo a $1 million expansion project during the summer. A modern 8600 square-foot exercise center for the campus community will be contained within a two-story window-lined addition which will face North Main Street . The project, which also includes significant renovations to the current lobby, is expected to be completed in early fall. The College's Theatre facilities , located on the first floor of the Administration Building , N. River Street , will undergo extensive infrastructure improvements which are being funded by a recent anonymous grant of $750,000 over a five-year period. During the summer, the first phase of the project will be completed, including the installation of a state-of-the-art electrical distribution system, a new lighting control panel and trusses to support new lights. King's has offered theatre productions to the local community since 1950, the fourth year of the College's existence. The summer projects are in addition to the $30 million King's has spent in the last six years in improvement projects, including the renovation of the Sheehy Farmer Campus Center , Luksic Hall and Alumni Hall and the construction of Monarch Court on N. Franklin Street . King's College is a Catholic College sponsored by the congregation of Holy Cross. |