UH dorm renovations to start in summer
Repairs over the next four years mean higher fees for students
The University of Hawaii at Manoa will begin fixing its aging dorms and apartments this summer with money from a $40 million bond sale, to be paid back through higher student housing fees.
In January, the Board of Regents approved fee increases of up to 5 percent a year for the next five years, bringing the cost of the most common shared dorm room to $4,774 from $3,742.
UH dorm renovation to begin
The University of Hawaii at Manoa is spending $40 million to fix deteriorating dorms on campus.
Construction will start this summer and continue for the next four years.
One of the first projects is repairing walkways at Hale Noelani that are being held up by wooden support beams that were supposed to be in place for only three months. That was four years ago.
Students will pay for the fixes with higher housing fees.
Plans to build more new student housing are on hold until the renovations are completed, housing officials said.
|
Repairs over the next four years will also involve closing the four Hale Aloha complex dorms -- two at a time for about a year -- so they can be gutted and renovated.
One of the first projects will be fixing Hale Noelani walkways, which were cited in a critical state auditor's report in January.
The walkways, deteriorating because of water and termite damage, are being held up by wooden beams. According to the state auditor, consultants recommended the beams be used to prop up the walkways for no more than three months. That was in May 2002.
The cost of fixing the walkways is estimated at about $3 million, said Laurie Furutani, the UH-Manoa interim housing director. The university will also install elevators at Hale Noelani to make the complex accessible for the disabled, something that wasn't required when Hale Noelani was built in the 1970s, Furutani said.
Students who live at Hale Noelani said the project can't start soon enough.
"I don't like walking over there," said resident Maggie Clack. "It doesn't look safe at all."
Other work starting this summer includes replacing the floors at the Lokelani and Lehua towers.
Installing a sprinkler system at Johnson Hall, another critical safety improvement cited by the auditor, will start in January 2009.
The university had considered tearing down Johnson Hall and building a new dorm on the site, but those plans have been put on hold for now, Furutani said.
Alan Yang, UH-Manoa dean of students, said the university will award a $2.5 million contract to a private company to manage the construction projects for the next four years, and has invited several construction management firms to interview for the job.
But some of the projects are already in the works.
The university hired Architects Pacific to plan a complete renovation of the four Hale Aloha tower dorms and for design work on other repair projects.
In fall 2008, when the new $71 million Frear Hall dorm is completed, the university plans to shut down two of the Hale Aloha complex dorm towers for about a year for renovations, Yang said.
Shutting down two of the four Hale Aloha towers will take away 500 beds, Yang said. But with the 810-bed Frear Hall open, that will be about 300 more beds than exist now.
There is a concern about the loss of revenue, Yang said, adding, "We still have to meet debt service and operating costs."
Furutani said "it will be very tight," but it appears that the finances will work out. She added that the housing office will have to watch expenses during the renovations.
Better dorms will also mean higher prices for students, Yang said.
"Our students are constantly saying they are willing to pay more if they see improvements," he said. "Our plan is to demonstrate with this $40 million in improvements that are going to be very tangible, and show that they are getting a return for their increased money."
Student government leaders, however, say students aren't being given enough of a say in the raising of fees. They are concerned that the housing office is too quick to raise fees rather than cut expenses or improve occupancy rates to bring in more revenue.
"The whole process is being rushed," said undergraduate student body President Grant Teichman. "The students are the ones who are going to end up paying for it."
Teichman complained that the last meeting to discuss the fee increases was held on the day students returned from spring break, giving little time to inform students to show up. Fliers were put up in the dorms only a few hours before another meeting in March, Teichman said.
Furutani acknowledged that the housing office is under time pressures to get the new rates approved in time for housing application deadlines.
Only a few students showed up at the meetings, she said.
But she said the fee increase was discussed in other meetings with student government leaders, and that a Web site was set up so students could e-mail comments.
The fee increase proposal was sent to the chancellor's office for approval on Thursday, Furutani said.
HOUSING UNDER REPAIR
Below is a list of construction projects, estimated costs and tentative start dates for student dorms and apartments at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus.
Hale Lehua and Hale Ilima renovation
» Planning and design: $1.9 million (under way)
» Construction: $11.7 million (start May 2008)
» Total cost: $13.6 million
Hale Mokihana and Hale Lokelani renovation
» Planning and design: $1.9 million (under way)
» Construction: $11.7 million (start September 2009)
» Total cost: $13.6 million
Hale Lokelani and Hale Lehua flooring repairs
» Construction: $300,000 (start May 2007)
Hale Noelani walkway replacement and new elevator
» Design: $172,000 (under way)
» Construction: $2.5 million (start May 2007)
» Total cost: $2.7 million
Hale Wainani elevator modernization/transformer replacement
» Design: $150,000 (start September 2008)
» Construction: $4 million (start June 2009)
» Total cost: $4.2 million
Johnson Hall fire alarm and sprinkler system
» Design: $150,000 (start April 2008)
» Construction: $1 million (start January 2009)
» Total cost: $1.2 million
All dorms -- Electronic Card Access System
» Design: $130,000 (start May 2007)
» Construction: $1.4 million (start January 2008)
» Total cost: $1.5 million
Miscellaneous repairs -- Hale Kahawai re-roof, Hale Laulima canopy and Hale Aloha fire doors
» Design: $196,000 (under way)
» Construction: $700,000 (start January 2008)
» Total cost: $900,000
Construction management contract
» $2.5 million (interviewing firms now)
|