SMC remodels `plain' Regina, adds doubles, quads
By COURTNEY BOYLE
News Writer
As Saint Mary's students pack up in May to go home, construction workers will unpack to start the Regina Hall renovation.
After renovations, the building consisting primarily of single rooms will be remodeled for singles, doubles and some quads. When the renovations are complete, the furniture — now attached to the walls — will be movable.
There will be sprinklers and better lighting. All of this should make Regina a more pleasant home.
"I'm very excited, thrilled about it. It has gone very well so far. We're going to have a nice project," said Keith Dennis, vice president of finance and administration.
Renovations ware planned to continue over the summer months and will be completed in time for the fall semester.
Built in the 1960s, Regina Hall is unique compared to other residence halls on campus because it served as a convent until the mid-1970s. It was at this time that the college purchased the building for the congregation and made it into a dorm. Because of its original purpose, the rooms have less than 100 square feet of floor space and the furniture, including bookshelves, desks and closets, is built into the walls.
"The driver on [the renovations] is the room configuration is not desirable to students," Dennis said. "It's unattractive to students and there has been water leaking in through the windows."
Freshman Candi McElligott agreed with Dennis about the dorm's unattractiveness.
"Regina is a very quiet, plain building," she said. "There aren't any pretty aspects of this hall, like there are in Le Mans and Holy Cross. They have the high ceilings and the genuine antiqueness to them. I don't think that Regina fits in with the pretty atmosphere of this campus,"
Front desk worker Marg McDonnell, however, has worked in all the residence halls and said she likes Regina the best.
"I absolutely love this dorm. It's cozier and there is a tremendous amount of closeness with the girls," McDonnell said. "Because this is mostly singles, [they] will come down and congregate in the lobby more — I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to live in this hall."
Students who live in Regina acknowledge the sense of community.
"It is more of a family atmosphere," said Regina resident advisor Abby Stahoviak. "Many more women leave their doors open, which invites others into their room. I find it nice to be welcomed into another person's room."
Stahoviak said the renovations will change more than the physical structure of the dorm.
"I think with the new renovations the entire atmosphere will change. More doors will be closed and it will become more like the other halls on campus," she said.
McElligott agrees with Stahoviak that the renovations will change the sense of community next year.
"I think that the renovations will help a little next year, because they plan on making it all size rooms on every floor, instead of just singles. This will hopefully help with the whole unity factor, because that definitely needs to be worked on in this building," said McElligott. "Also, the furniture will be moveable, and this gives a resident a little more to work with, and to arrange her room the way she wants to."
As of this year Regina Hall houses approximately 150 residents with no current vacancies. However, three of eight floors are not open for student residence.
The goal for next year is for Regina to be at its capacity of 245.
Director of Residence Life Dana North said the reason Regina is not full is based solely on student preference and upperclassmen don't choose it because they tend to want doubles. But she has been hearing positive feedback about the renovations, which might bring students back into the dorm.
"We're hoping that students start choosing it," North said. "There have been a lot of positive reactions to the drawings that were posted."
Regina resident Colleen Miles likes living there and said the renovations will add to the experience.
"I chose to live in Regina because I liked the idea of having my own personal space," Miles said. "Also, I would live here next year, with or without the renovations, although the renovations will give Regina more perks."
Melinda Brown, Regina Hall Director, has received positive feedback from current Regina residents.
"I've heard a lot of students wanting to stay here. I hope so because I think it will be really fun," said Brown.
All News Stories for Friday, March 10, 2000
