By Isabelle Tilley
After months of construction crews, covered walkways and cranes dominating William Peace University campus, the transformation of the historic Main building, standing since 1857, is currently nearing completion.
The project is one of Peace’s most ambitious undertakings in recent years, as the goal was to remodel the second, third, and fourth floors of Main in less than two years.
Although students and faculty have voiced frustrations over the noise, blocked walkways, and limited access to classrooms, university officials emphasize that the end is in sight.
According to President Lynn Morton, the Main building project represents a significant investment in preserving Peace’s history while addressing urgent structural needs.
“Main was pretty high up on the list because we knew that the residence hall space and some of the offices up there were not in great condition,” Morton said. “It’s a very old building — built in 1857 — and it’s gone through lots of iterations. It was a little bit of a piecemeal job over the years… air conditioning added at one point, baths added later, all that kind of stuff.”
The decision to renovate came after safety concerns were discovered last year, Morton said.
“There were just some areas of Main that we really didn’t feel like we could continue to use and make sure that everybody was safe and in a good environment,” she said. “So we front-loaded that project, moved it up the list, and it became the top priority.”
What’s Happening in Main?
According to Assistant Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Communications Karen Dunton, a multi-phase renovation began in summer 2024, focusing on the third and fourth floors and a portion of the second floor. These updates include new residence halls, refurbished common spaces, and modernized administrative offices.
Dunton confirmed the project is on track for completion in early fall 2025, with improved student spaces and administrative offices opening by then.
Renovating a 168-year-old landmark hasn’t been simple. Without a freight elevator, crews have used cranes to hoist furniture over balconies and into upper floors, sometimes at night, while protective coverings safeguard the historic pavers from heavy equipment.
“The renovation of student rooms was completed in August and students are now living in these refurbished rooms,” Dunton said. “Furniture for these spaces must be delivered to the front of Main building and brought in through the balcony doorways, given the building does not have a freight elevator. To protect the brick pathways in front of Main building, they will remain covered until all furniture and materials have been delivered.”
Morton says she’s witnessed the chaos firsthand.
“My office is directly under the construction… they drop things all the time,” she said. “Occasionally a little bit of plastering has fallen off, which was just super exciting.”
Campus-Wide Housing Updates
The Main building isn’t the only residence hall receiving attention. Across campus, other dorms like Finley, Frazier, and Bingham, have seen upgrades to layouts and furniture.
In an email sent July 30, 2025, Residence Life announced updated lofted beds, new armoires, and improved storage across several dorms.
“Each space will now include a lofted bed designed to maximize your room layout, with your desk and drawer fitting neatly underneath, along with an armoire for additional storage,” the email read. “As a community, accessibility remains a top priority. We will coordinate with students in partnership with Disability Support Services.”
Some students, like junior Teshannon Spivey, praised these upgrades, particularly in Bingham.
“Bingham’s renovations are beautiful… hardwoods, showers — much more worth the price now,” Spivey said.
Student Experiences in Main
For students living in Main itself, the updates have caused a mixed bag of emotions.
Brenda Echeverria, who lived in Main both before and after renovations, described the building as “certainly antiquated,” but noted that’s part of its charm.
“It’s bizarre to see a decades-old mirror clash with modern furniture,” she said. “Coordination should be considered in things like this.”
Echeverria remembered the move-in delays this August, when students couldn’t get their keys because fire marshal clearance wasn’t finalized.
“We didn’t get our keys until Friday afternoon,” she said. “That could’ve been an email.”
Still, Echeverria said that the residents of Main have overall expressed excitement about fresh common spaces and new furniture, appreciating that the updates aim to balance modern comforts with historic character.
While renovations have brought construction crews and occasional disruptions, Morton emphasized the larger vision behind the project: preserving the school’s history while adapting to student needs.
“We want to make sure that as we go out there with our message about who we are, that we look good and that we serve students well,” she said.
Nowhere is that commitment more visible than in Main, the campus’s front door.
“The Main building is the face of Peace,” Echeverria said. “It deserves to be treated as such.”