Central Michigan University’s Troutman Hall will undergo a $4.9 million renovation beginning in May.
Currently, Troutman offers two sets of bunk beds in each room, housing up to four students. These rooms will be converted into two-person rooms.
In 2020, Carey Hall was renovated into two-person rooms with updates including luxury vinyl flooring, window treatments, new desk chairs, and full-size beds. The Troutman renovations will look similar but will include two twin-size beds.
With fewer students living on campus due to COVID-19, construction will have less of an impact on students compared to previous years. However, Troutman is home to one of CMU’s living-learning communities, the Multicultural Advancement and Cofer Scholars (MAC).
The Multicultural Advancement and Lloyd M. Cofer scholarships are awarded to students who have previously exemplified in high school and pledged a continued commitment at CMU to academic achievement, community service, enhancing diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion.
Graphics and photos from the MAC scholar program will be used in the remodel to help create the identity of the residence hall.
“Our hope is that when you walk into Troutman it will be very clear that it is home to the MAC scholars,” says Gardner.
During the renovations, the MAC scholars will be relocated to Cobb Hall and will be welcomed back home once the project is completed next year.
The residence hall, located on the southwest end of campus, is one of the four original towers which includes Carey, Cobb, and Wheeler. The 8-story building opened in the fall of 1969 as a women’s only residence hall with a capacity of 336 students and became co-ed in 1972.
Before the Carey Hall remodel, the last major renovation to the Towers Complex was in 2001 when construction began on three additional residence halls — Campbell, Kessler, and Kulhavi. The additions were built between the original residence halls and were completed in 2003.
The CMU Board of Trustees approved the renovation of Troutman Hall in December 2020.
The modest remodel is an opportunity to create a more modernized look and feel, says Director of Residence Life Kathleen Gardner.
The upgrade decisions were made keeping in mind what students want from their residential experience, but also being conscious of cost, she says.
Troutman Hall will be open for summer conferences and for the fall semester in 2022.
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