Over the summer, and one addition last month, Thayer hall was renovated in a variety of areas to improve the looks of the over 50-year-old dorm. The first thing that residents see when they walk in is new rubberized material on the staircase to improve traction during weather such as snow and rain.
“As always, we want to provide the best for our students, and so a lot of times that, involves making different renovations and updating the buildings,” said Residence Director of Thayer Hall Matthew Pioch. “Even though it is not a new ‘state of the art building,’ there are still some things that we can do to make [Thayer] better overall, ascetically as well as functionally.”
All of the counter tops and sinks, as well as the doors to the stalls in the bathrooms, were all replaced, and last month automatic flushers were put on each urinal too.
“Before this year’s renovations Thayer was starting to show its age,” said senior Electronic Media major Grant Long. “Paint was peeling and stuff was just really beat up.”
Some major cosmetic changes that caught Long’s eye this semester were the renovations in the bathrooms. Long has lived in Thayer for all four years of his college career at Waynesburg, mostly to save money and experience a more community oriented enviornment.
“Everything just seems a little bit cleaner,” said Long. “Stuff seems like it is more maintained, you have to look at it like a new fresh coat of paint put on your house making the property value go up. It has helped the overall look of the building.”
The idea to improve Thayer came sometime between late winter and early spring. Each of the residence halls were looked at and budgets were created for each of them. Then everyone got together to see what they wanted to do first with the budget.
“I think that it is fantastic. I think that it is a ‘homier’ environment,” said Pioch. “I think [when people come inside of Thayer] it looks top of the line now,”
For Long’s last year at Waynesburg, he is glad that the renovations finally happened, but he still hopes to see more done in the common area and in dorm rooms too.
“If they could have done it sooner it would have been a lot nicer,” said Long, “but I am grateful for it now, I have lived [in Thayer] for four years and it is nice to give the incoming freshman something better.”