By William Woodson
Renovations on the third and fourth floors of the Main Building at William Peace University are well underway and are expected to be finished by the time students start classes for the 2025 Fall semester.
John Cranham, Associate Vice President for Buildings and Grounds for WPU, said it had been about 40 years since the inside of the Main Building had been renovated.
It is an extremely old structure. Construction on the building started in 1857 and was opened to Peace in 1872. Because of its age and the four decades since a renovation, Cranham said the Main Building was due for some refurbishing.
Students who lived in the dorm liked the historic look of the building but noticed that the stairs creaked, the bathrooms were outdated and the rooms had old doors and floors.
“The time was appropriate to improve the residential and office spaces by providing a fresh environment for students and employees,” said Cranham.
(Photo by: Mikayla C.)
The renovations inside the Main Building include improvements to the “interior finishes, bathroom spaces, a modernization of the heating and cooling system and new room furnishings,” said Cranham.
In addition to the third and fourth floors, this construction project also includes improvements to the administration wing on the second floor.
Cranham said the current renovation plan is on schedule and said the completion date is estimated to be “no later than August 2025.”
“The University is excited about the renovations and being able to enhance the residential experience for the students living in the historical Main Building,” said Cranham.
Cranham said there are more plans for improvements in the coming months.
“The University is always evaluating the needs of all the campus buildings to provide the best experience for all students, employees and guests whenever they are on campus,” Cranham said. “There are plans to do some upgrades to residence halls this summer.”