More than 300,000 square feet of vacant space existed five years ago on campus. But when the Board of Supervisors mandated the University renovate the space before adding new buildings, Chancellor Mark Emmert said he began searching for ways to repair and use what the campus already had. Today, a third of the
abandoned space is under construction and nearing completion.
Students may notice many dark and empty windows walking past Hodges and Hatcher halls or around Tiger Stadium.
Speculations abound of what those spaces once were used for — dormitories, classrooms and such — and what usage they are now.
Chancellor Mark Emmert said five years ago, uninhabitable space took up about 318,000 square feet of building space on campus.
“Before we can build new buildings, we have to make sure we can repair and utilize what we have already,” Emmert said.
Assistant Director of Campus Planning for Facility Services Emmett David defined “uninhabitable” as being abandoned because of lack of air-conditioning, non-code compliancy, limited space availability and a lack of telecommunication fibers.
A combination of state and University funds through private money and institutional dollars are used to finance the renovations, Emmert said.
Fortunately, in the last three years, the administration began initiatives to renovate buildings such as Hatcher, Hodges and Johnston halls, the Huey P. Long Field House, the Gym Armory and Tiger Stadium.
According to University officials, workers are renovating more than 100,000 square feet of space for future use as offices, department headquarters and classrooms.
Executive Director of Facility Services Joe Kelly said the University is mandated to renovate and maintain all space on campus before any new construction can be done.
Emmert said he feels the renovations to current abandoned spaces are essential for the growth of the University.
Emmert said the average space utilization of campus supports 25,000 students, while the campus population is more than 31,000.
The entire University has about 9.2 million square feet of space, David said.
“The whole intent is to take advantage of the buildings we have and to take care of this wonderful old campus,” Emmert said.
Hatcher Hall
Currently, the offices of National Student Exchange, Study Abroad and Strategic Initiatives occupy Hatcher Hall as well as offices of many Arts and Sciences instructors and professors.
According to David, workers are in the design process for renovations, which are scheduled to begin in January or February of next year.
David said Hatcher is a “swing-space” building, used as transitional office space for departments while their permanent locations are renovated or reconfigured during Master Plan changes.
When contractors begin renovating the Music and Dramatic Arts Building to update offices and the theater, the entire department will relocate to the basement and portions of Hatcher’s first, second, third and fourth floors.
The department will move into Hatcher in August or September 2003, but full renovations of Hatcher are expected to extend into the next two or three years, David said.
Once renovations are completed, the International Cultural Center and LSYOU will relocate to Hatcher.
Workers have renovated about 54,000 net-assigned square feet of abandoned space for use, David said.
Hodges Hall
The University recently renovated Student Media offices and media outlets in the basement of Hodges Hall. The University also renovated portions of the second floor, mostly unused, for use as headquarters of Tiger TV and office space.
Jan. 6 through 9, many instructors and professors, primarily Arts and Sciences faculty with offices in the upper levels of Hatcher Hall, will move to office space in Hodges that is near completion.
David said the new office spaces reach full-code compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and have better communication hookups.
French Studies instructor Earlene Broussard said she is excited about the move. Broussard said most French Studies instructors will be in adjacent offices.
“Then we will be able to confer more easily as a department and compare day-to-day experiences in the classroom,” Broussard said.
Mass communication professor Stephen Banning said he also is happy to move into Hodges because students will have an easier time finding his office.
Banning said his students have problems navigating the corridors and dead ends of Hatcher.
Johnston Hall
Student Leadership and Involvement and the Interfraternity Council currently occupy offices in Johnston Hall.
University funds supply air-conditioning and maintenance improvements to all floors except the third floor, David said.
Law Enforcement Online will relocate from Pleasant Hall to the fourth floor of Johnston Hall, David said.
Before renovations, Johnston Hall had about 26,000 square feet of abandoned space, David said. Now, the figure has dropped to 17,400 square feet.
Renovations are scheduled for completion during the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
Huey P. Long Field House and the Gym Armory
The Huey P. Long Building has almost 12,000 square feet of unused space — mainly abandoned hardball courts, often called the “dungeon” courts because of their damp basement location.
“It is anticipated that [Huey P. Long] will be renovated to support kinesiology classes and student-supported recreational services,” David said.
David said kinesiology courses and fitness sessions affiliated with the Rec Center will use the classrooms.
Renovations in Huey P. Long will near completion in 24 to 30 months, David said.
The Gym Armory already has undergone extensive construction to prepare for the opening of the Cox Communications Academic Center for Athletes, set for spring 2003.
Renovations to the Gym Armory eliminated 35,000 square feet of abandoned space.
Tiger Stadium
Nearly 182,000 square feet of space remains vacant in the east, west and south sections of Tiger Stadium.
Currently, weight training facilities, coaching staff offices and the Lawton Room occupy the north section of Tiger Stadium.
According to Emmert, art studios and University storage occupy other portions of Tiger Stadium. However, these spaces are not up to standards.
“[The space] is in great disrepair. It is not a high quality space at all,” Emmert said.
Administrators currently are debating how to use the abandoned portions of Tiger Stadium.
David said if renovations occur, art students still will have spaces for studios. Potential renovations and developments would cost the University more than $20 million.