Two days after becoming the state’s next governor, Kathleen Blanco moved into her new workplace – a former LSU dorm room.
Governor-elect Blanco and her transition team moved into Hatcher Hall on Monday and will use the space until Jan. 12, when she moves into her office at the state capitol.
Blanco’s transition team is designed to help with her administration decisions prior to her inauguration in January.
Chancellor Mark Emmert said the University started discussions with Blanco and Bobby Jindal immediately following the Oct. 4 election to arrange a site for their transition teams.
Emmert said this is the fourth time in recent history that a governor elect’s transition team has occupied an LSU building.
Edwin Edwards, Buddy Roemer and Mike Foster all resided in Pleasant Hall during their transition stages, Emmert said.
Emmert said the University wanted to be a “good citizen” by providing the governor with a place to work prior to taking office.
“It is an opportunity to demonstrate good faith,” Emmert said. “It also gives us a chance to partner with the governor and her staff to build relationships.”
Along with Blanco, who is occupying 27 rooms on the second floor, Lt. Governor-elect Mitch Landrieu also is occupying space in the building.
Landrieu, who obtained 53 percent of the vote for lieutenant governor in October, will be occupying two rooms on the first floor until he takes office in January.
Preparing Hatcher Hall for the transition team was not a difficult task, said Paul Favalora, facility services director of resources.
Favalora said the hall was already undergoing renovations for Music and Dramatic Arts, who plan to occupy the space in the fall.
“The beauty of the thing is that we were preparing Hatcher for Music and Dramatic Arts,” Favalora said. “So it is a win-win for [Facility Services].”
Favalora said painting, floor waxing and general upgrades were the only projects facility services needed to complete before Blanco and her team moved in.
Favalora said besides the general upgrades, three walls were knocked out to create larger offices for MD&A.
One of those larger offices will be used by Blanco during her stay.
Along with the facility services upgrades, the Office of Telecommunications also played a large role in preparing Hatcher Hall.
Rick Simmons, telecommunications associate director, was in charge of bringing the 62-year old former dormitory up to date.
Simmons said the two main projects his office undertook were the installations of voice and data drops for Internet and telephones, and security cameras.
A total of nine security cameras were installed throughout the first and second floors of Hatcher Hall, Simmons said. The cameras will be monitored by a Louisiana State Trooper inside the hall.
Favalora said when Blanco and the transition team leave in January, very little work will need to be done before MD&A can move in.
Favalora said the removal of security cameras and the completion of the second floor’s north wing will be the only major projects facility services will need to take care of.