Refreshed residence halls ready for students

Students moving into RIT’s residence halls are being greeted by new improvements, ranging from carpeting, paint, chrome bathroom fixtures, convenient meeting spaces, and in some cases, even air conditioning.

Aggressive work was done in six of the 13 residence hall buildings this summer, involving more than 100 people from 36 contracting companies, working six days a week.

More than 3,000 students will live in the residence halls this academic year, which begins on Aug. 26.

“One of the most personalized services for students is where they live,” said Kory Samuels, associate vice president for Auxiliary Services. “It is important for us to create and maintain living spaces where they feel comfortable to relax, learn, and make lifelong connections. We strongly believe that this only helps in their overall success of graduating on time and staying connected to RIT for life.”

Even more work will be done to the buildings during the next three summers, said David Bagley, assistant vice president and director of Residence Life.

The majority of work this summer was done in Frances Baker Hall, Residence Halls A, B, and C, Kate Gleason Hall, Eugene Colby Hall, and Sol Heumann Hall. Many replacement doors and locks were installed, allowing different modes of entry other than keys.

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Traci Westcott/RIT

Many of the living spaces received new carpeting, paint, lighting fixtures, chrome faucets in bathrooms, and air conditioning in sleeping areas.

New carpeting, paint, lighting fixtures in hallways, sleep rooms and bathrooms were installed, fire alarm enhancements were made, and the most requested amenity, air conditioning in each sleep room, was added to buildings without it previously, making 11 out of 13 residence halls now air conditioned. Rooms in Helen Fish and Carlton Gibson Hall will have air conditioning installed next summer.

Exterior improvements were also made to roofs and masonry.

And there are more meeting and activity rooms now in residence halls, including rooms (open to all RIT students) designed for collaboration, club meetings, studying, tutoring, counseling support, and more.

These rooms, in Kate Gleason Hall, Sol Heumann Hall, Mark Ellingson Hall, and Fredericka Douglass Sprague Perry Hall, are available from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily unless reserved for a class or event.

These connection hubs were designed to foster meaningful connections across all aspects of student life, providing students with the tools and support needed to thrive, whether it is used for studying, collaboration, academic or personal success programming with fellow students, faculty, or in workshops, Bagley said.

This is the third year in a five-year, $50 million refresh project for residence halls. The remaining two years will consist of similar upgrades as needed, extensive exterior work that will include signage and landscaping upgrades near walkways and quads. 

“This would not be possible without the helpful of feedback from our students, parents, and staff,” Samuels said.

Samuels also credited Michael Dellefave, associate director for RIT’s Facilities Management Services and project manager for the residence hall transformations, with help from RIT Housing, Residence Life, Auxiliary Services, Environmental Health and Safety, Public Safety, Information and Technology Services, Finance and Administration, and Marketing and Communications.