Demolition and renovation at Emporia State University’s Morse Hall residence complex are both going well, according to Director of Residence Life Cass Coughlin.
ESU is in the process of renovating Abigail Morse, the oldest residence hall on campus. It’s also completely demolishing Northeast Morse and partially demolishing Central Morse. Coughlin says the demolition process is nearing the end at Central and Northeast.
At Abigail, Coughlin says the tearout is complete. Renovations will now start on the fourth floor and work down to the basement. Some areas will look similar to how they did before the renovations.
Others won’t. Coughlin says the main new feature will be additions on the north and south side, which will serve as commons areas for students.
The project was approved as part of a campus master plan several years ago, but it’s a reworked plan. The original thought was to completely tear down the complex and return it to either green space or academic space. Coughlin says people around Emporia were happy and relieved that part of the complex is getting renovated, and he says the project reflects Emporia State’s goal of creating long-lasting relationships among students.
Photos by Chuck Samples/KVOE News
{gallery}Morse Hall 083119{/gallery}
