Several buildings on the Florida A&M University’s campus will undergo renovations next school year.
Expansions for some general education classroom buildings and the College of Pharmacy will take place as well.
Sharon Saunders, university spokesperson, said the goal is to improve FAMU’s appearance.
“We want to make sure that we expose our students to state-of-the-art class room technology and facilities,” Saunders said.
Karen Brown, director of facilities planning for FAMU, said the design is in place for the first project, Tucker Hall, a classroom building that was last renovated in 1970.
“Now we are negotiating with the architect,” she said.
Instead of focusing on the outside of the buildings, Brown said the renovations would be internal.
“Right now, we’re looking within,” Brown said.
The Gore Education Complex and the College of Pharmacy are next on the list of projects.
Brown said the design contracts for the Gore Education Complex should be ready within two weeks. “Phase II” will be added on to the existing structure of the College of Pharmacy, built in 2002.
“We are in the process of renovating some of our facilities so that we can maximize the learning experiences of our students,” Saunders said.
The university dormitories are also scheduled for changes.
Brown said that one dormitory in particular, Polkinghorne Village, has a design invitation on it and should accommodate about 800 beds.
Some students at FAMU say that housing on campus is poor and are looking forward to more space.
Keenan Doanes, a 19-year-old sophomore, said he welcomes the renovations.
“The dorms are old and rundown. I’m glad to be a sophomore so I can live off campus,” Doanes said. “I knew it wasn’t going to be like home, but wow.”
Brown said that they are working to make parents and students happy.
“We are trying to increase student and parent satisfaction with on campus living options,” Brown said. “We have positive things happening here on campus.”
Doanes said if living conditions on campus were better he would not mind staying another year.
Brown said that the efforts to renovate the dormitories are not only to accommodate student needs, but also to bring back the wonderful culture on campus.