Summer renovations provide a fresh start for the fall semester

When students return to Lenoir-Rhyne University to begin the fall semester in a few weeks, they’ll find a range of updates and improvements in residence halls and classroom buildings.

“Summer is always a dynamic time for campus facilities and improvements,” said Jeremy Shreve, vice president for business and finance. “This summer the focus is on changes that will provide more comfortable living and innovative learning.”

Most notable is the full interior facelift in the Rhyne Building – which included refreshed paint and flooring as well as installation of cutting-edge technology in two active learning studios.

“As students step inside the active learning studios, they will see technology pods with wireless connectivity and multidevice sharing screens. Each working pod will accommodate five students and their devices,” explained Shweta Kailani, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. “Active learning technology allows professors to share content in multiple ways with students. Professors can also pull content from students and share it with the class, making the classroom one big collaborative environment.”

Additional improvements include upgrades in student housing. A new HVAC system will welcome 152 first-year residents to Isenhour Hall, allowing them to control the temperature in each individual room. The University Park Townhomes and Apartments on Fifth boast interior updates with fresh paint and carpets as well as new bath fixtures.

Elsewhere on campus, work is underway to prepare for the arrival of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary (LTSS). Administrative and faculty offices will occupy the Russell House in the heart of campus, steps away from Grace Chapel and the Cromer Center. Rudisill Library is updating its collections to make space to incorporate the seminary’s Lineberger Library resources.

Funds for campus improvement projects are typically generated through public bonds, charitable grants and private donations. A complete guide to campus improvements appears below.

• Rhyne Building: This campus landmark houses classroom space, offices for faculty and the Belk Centrum. Following the installation of new HVAC last summer, this summer the building added new luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring throughout the hallways, new carpet in the classrooms, as well as paint and window shades throughout. The building has added two state-of-the-art active learning studios designed to use the latest technology for collaborative instruction. A third classroom is equipped with Zoom capabilities, a 123” recessed projector screen and 65” monitors along the side walls to allow for HyFlex teaching. It also got new furniture and power outlets on each table to allow students to plug in their devices during class.

• Isenhour Hall: A new HVAC system for the building supports in-room heating and cooling units in the suite-style residence hall for first-year students. Last summer these suites received facelifts that included carpet and flooring, paint, plumbing and bathroom fixtures.

• University Park Townhomes and Apartments on Fifth: Occupied by upper-level and graduate students, these fully functional apartments had an interior makeover with fresh paint, carpet, tile and bath fixtures.

• Fourth Street Apartments: Kitchens in each of these units were upgraded with fully functional stove/oven/hood units for meal preparation.

• Lineberger Building: The center of university of administrative offices, Lineberger received a planned HVAC upgrade on the heels of last summer’s interior refresh of carpet and paint.

• Athletic Facilities: Thanks to generous funding from donations earmarked for the project, construction began to turn the softball field into a full-fledged stadium with grandstands, a press box, dugouts, entrance plaza and entertainment spaces for groups. Work is expected to be complete in time for the spring season.

• LTSS Relocation:  As the Hickory campus prepares to welcome LTSS, work is underway in Rudisill Library to update the library’s current holdings and make efficient use of space to accommodate materials from the LTSS Columbia campus. Russell House, chosen for its central location near Grace Chapel, Cromer Center and P.E. Monroe Auditorium, will see light renovations in the fall to prepare the space to house LTSS administration and faculty.

• Campuswide: New banners were installed on light posts throughout campus in late spring, and new building and directional signage will be installed during the fall semester.