Carman Hall will be closed to residents for one-to-two years in order to assess the condition of the building and make renovations in anticipation of increased enrollment.

The closure will begin June 1, and University Housing and Dining Services will pair with the Facilities Planning and Management Office to evaluate the condition of the piping system that pumps heat and air conditioning in the building, said Mark Hudson, the director of housing and dining.

“Both cold and hot water have ran through the same pipes for 43 years, which has resulted in some corrosion in the pipes,” he said.

Normally, the university makes renovations during the summer, but Hudson said the size of Carman Hall will make the assessment last at least a year. It could extend to two years depending on the amount of maintenance needed.

In addition to the heating and cooling system, they will check the condition of all mechanical systems to see what changes are necessary.

Another goal to accomplish with Carman Hall during the closure will be to install wireless Internet throughout the building.

The university began installing wireless Internet on campus about five years ago, and Greek Court, Carman Hall and Pemberton Hall are the only buildings left on the housing office’s list, Hudson said.

Housing and dining started discussing the assessment of Carman Hall several months ago, he added. Low enrollment along with Carman Hall’s low retention of residents gave them the opportunity to close the hall without disrupting the placement of students.

“Most people think that Carman houses all of the freshmen, but that is not true,” Hudson said. “About 20 percent of freshmen live in Carman, which is the highest percentage on campus, but we can infuse those students across campus.”

About 90 percent of residents who live in Carman Hall their first year choose to live in a different hall their second year, he added.

For incoming students next fall, Carman Hall will not be listed on the housing options.

Those who currently work in the hall, which consists of about 15 full-time staff members and 75-100 student staffers, will be transferred to other locations across campus without having to layoff any staff, Hudson said.

Lisa Walker, the resident director of Carman Hall, said the staff and residents were informed of the closure prior to the university’s press release, and Resident Assistants were prepped to answer questions their residents might have.

“This is our community, and I am excited that Carman will be taken care of and maintained for the next wave of residents,” she said. “This is just part of the natural process for improving the housing experience.”

Even though students will not be living in Carman Hall, the building will not be completely shut down.

The building will still maintain a level of heating in the winter so the pipes do not freeze and burst, but that could mean having the temperature at 50 degrees instead of 72 degrees, Hudson said.

He estimated the university will save about $1 million in a year with the closure.

“By saving that $1 million, we can reinvest that back into the structure,” he added. “The assessment will allow us to use our resources in a way that will serve the students well.”

In addition to the hall renovations, the university might bring in a dining consultant to assess the condition of the Carman Dining Center. Hudson said with the dining center unavailable, they will relocate “grilled cheese Wednesday” to a different hall.

Hudson also mentioned looking into other housing projects in the future such as possibly transforming Pemberton Hall into a residential college after the new home of the Honors College is completed in order to enrich the environment.

The residential college would have apartments for faculty to live in the same building as residents and might have seminar rooms.

Rachel Rodgers can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].