Lippitt Hall, which houses the Honors Program and other programs, is coming offline for renovations.

Lippitt Hall slated for remodeling

By: Chloe Thompson

Posted: 9/7/07

09/07/07 - After more than 100 years of gracing the University of Rhode Island with its presence on the Quadrangle, Lippitt Hall will receive a full renovation, leaving its occupants in temporary homes.

The renovation will cost $8.5 million, according to the university Web site. Funded by the university and a state bond referendum, the cost includes new windows, technological upgrades, a new roof and air conditioning.

The parking lot behind Bliss Hall will be closed during the day for construction purposes, along with Powerhouse Road.

Paul DePace, director of Capital Projects at the university, said the only delay in construction, which was originally scheduled to be completed fall of 2008, is purchasing difficulties.

"This will not affect the quality of the project when it's done," he said. "We will certainly have it done by January of next year. We need to get the contractor on board officially and then we will begin."

The Honors Program, which has called Lippitt its home for the past 14 years, is now adapting to a new turf, the former Roger Williams Dining Hall.

Professor Richard McIntyre, director of the Honors Program, said the move left the program slightly unorganized, but is optimistic about the renovation in Lippitt.

"Where we're going to be sounds great," he said. "I think it's going to be a perfect home and a showcase for the Honors Program on the campus."

The additions to the top floor of Lippitt will include technological advances similar to that of Independence Hall, such as projectors, screens and sound systems controlled from a lectern. DePace said the ceiling of this floor will be opened up to create an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere for guest lecturers.

"A challenge in a building like this is to take a 100-year-old building and keep the historical character of the building, but put in what's necessary for modern teaching and learning," he said.

McIntyre said, "The good thing about where we are now is that we are near the dorms, so there's a lot of student energy, which is nice."

Along with the Honors Program, computer systems that were stationed in Lippitt will be moved Sept. 15 to Tyler Hall, to consolidate the university's computer system.

DePace said, "The university's master plan says that we want the buildings around the Quadrangle to not be administrative space, but to be academic space, so this is fulfilling that role."

The basement of the hall, which DePace said was formerly used as "dead storage," will soon hold several offices for the math department.

"There are very few offices [in Lippitt] now," DePace said. "This space wasn't very well-used but we wanted to stay within the existing walls. These are all offices built to university standards."

Other renovations include the first handicapped accessible entrance and an additional staircase exit to the building to keep up with current fire codes.