Residential Improvement Project Underway
By Kelly Kuehn, Student and Campus Life
Students grow tremendously while living in residence halls as they create new connections with peers, learn new skills, and explore their identities. A welcoming residential experience helps students thrive, which is why Cornell University and Student and Campus Life are dedicated to creating a safe and vibrant residential experience where students can thrive and build a solid foundation for success on the Hill.
Housing and Residential Life and Student and Campus Life Facilities have several improvements within Cornell’s residence halls underway to ensure students have the best residential experience possible. Below is what you can expect to see across campus residences in the upcoming academic year.
Balch Hall Renovations to Wrap Fall 2024
After being closed for more than two years, the complete renovation of Balch Hall has resulted in new single and double rooms, new study spaces, and gathering spaces for incoming first-year and returning students to foster connections and community. With the first half of this project opening with the fall 2024 move-in, residents will see significant exterior enhancements such as upgraded existing masonry walls and new insulated windows but with a mindful eye to match and preserve the building's historic character.
Inside, students will see a fully updated space to support the ways Cornellians live and learn in their residences – plus a few exciting features that nod to some of Balch Hall’s notable residents, like Ruth Bader Ginsberg. New mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire protection systems improve the interior environment, address deferred maintenance needs, and pursue the campus goal of reducing energy consumption while creating new and refreshed student spaces.
Enhancements to Safety and Security
Several units across campus, including Housing and Residential Life, Facilities and Campus Services, Access Control, and IT@Cornell, are working together to install security cameras in Cornell’s residential units, which will primarily be placed near public entrances and exits. Now entering the final phase of this multi-year project, work will continue throughout the 2024-2025 academic year as cameras are installed to support North Campus residential spaces. This phase will include installation of remaining infrastructure along with the installation of cameras. Cameras are installed and fully operational in residence halls on South Campus and West Campus.
While the project is a significant step for student safety in Cornell’s residential communities, respecting students’ privacy has been at the forefront in this project. The cameras will operate on a closed-circuit system and access to recorded footage will be limited to select security personnel.
“We are taking significant steps to balance safety and privacy by carefully reviewing everything from the placement of any camera to the development of the processes around when, who and how any recorded footage can be accessed or viewed,” said Tim Blair, Executive Director of Housing and Residential Life.
This security initiative is just one of several projects underway reinforcing Cornell’s commitment to maintaining and improving the residential experience.
Additional Residence Hall Enhancements
Other space-improvement projects are ongoing and include enhancements such as full bathroom and kitchen renewals in the Townhouses Apartment community, starting with the G and H units, and bathroom renovations in the Latino Living Center (LLC). Several residence halls also received new paint and new flooring in student rooms and common spaces, along with new bedroom furniture.
“The goal of these projects is to enhance the student experience and are part of ongoing efforts to make our residential spaces as inviting and comfortable as possible,” Blair said.