Major changes are taking place across the university's three campuses as six buildings undergo renovations as a direct result of the President's continued renewal campaign.
Last year, Howard University's Board of Trustees implemented PCAR, The Presidential Commission on Academic Renewal. PCAR was established as a a university-wide renewal initiative that will create major changes around campus.
The university-wide initiative is geared toward five areas: Academic Program Renewal; Faculty Renewal; Administrative and Staff Renewal; Facilities Renewal; and Students First.
Through these implementations; the University has used its "core values of truth, service, leadership, and excellence" to make Howard even more competitive in the 21st century, said President Ribeau in a July letter to the University .
While it will take time to get a few of the initiatives underway and fully in use, the Facilities Renewal Initiative has already begun and is making progress.
"All renovations will be done in different phases in the course of the fall, and they'll all be done by December," said Troy Stovall, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Howard University.
According to the University's renewal website, Facilities Renewal is charged with upgrading and transforming the university's physical campus to create facilities that "[reflect] an
investment in Howard's academic programs, its physical plant and the community that surrounds it."
To make sure that the buildings on campus are up to par, Howard has made a substantial investment over the next three years to ensure the buildings on campus will embody all that the school has to offer on an academic and cultural level.
Over the next ten years, the university plans to continue upgrading its facilities by adding more up-to-date buildings on campus, two new residence halls have been planned for the Fourth Street Corridor.
The Renewal Facilities Team will work with six buildings: Alain Locke Hall; Burr Gymnasium; Cramton Auditorium; Downing Hall; Frazier Hall; Numa Adams; and the Service Center. According to Stovall, these renovations cost approximately $30 million.
Work on Frazier Hall began last spring, and its changes are noticeable.
"I stay in Frazier right now and I can see a major improvement from when I visited the campus in 2003," said Alexia McGowan, a freshman musical theater major.
"For me to see how Frazier looked 8 years ago and to now be apart of the completed project is cool," McGowan said.
According to the renewal website, bathrooms and rooms in the hall, which was built in 1929, will undergo an "extreme makeover;" all the rooms and hallways will be painted, new ceilings, fixtures, and tiles will be installed, and new casework, closets, and wider doorways will be added for full compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
"It's comfortable, refreshing, and modern," McGowan said. "It by no means is extravagant, but I feel really comfortable and that's what matters."
Locke Hall, which is home to the administrative offices for the College of Arts and Sciences as well as classrooms, learning labs, and the English department,is having new windows and doors installed and will be painted. Upgrades will be made to the lobby area, hallways, and staircases while new furniture will be added to the classrooms to enhance the learning environment.
Burr Gymnasium is also being renovated and will be transformed into a state-of-the-art fitness center. Team locker rooms and student locker rooms will be modeled to the needs of student athletes. Classrooms and bathrooms are being renovated, while the exterior and mechanics ofthe establishment will be updated.
"I used Burr a lot my first year at Howard and I was not pleased with the equipment orthe state of the facility," said Allison Latimore, junior nutritional science major. "So when they closed the workout area during sophomore year and it re-opened with new equipment, I could begin to tell that Howard was getting serious about renewing the campus for the student's benefit."
Stovall says he hopes the changes will encourage students and alumni to support the university, because it is still in need of additional funds to continue with this initiative.
The next phase of the renewal, beginning next year, will focus on Howard's East, West and Beltsville, Md. campuses. They will also focus on improving Howard University Hospital.
"All we're doing is trying to create a different look and feel," Stovall said.
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