Recent renovations on Hearnes Hall — which include the relocation of the registrar, financial aid, bursar, and admissions offices as well as the addition of a glass atrium — have revamped the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the building.

“Everything I’ve heard has been extremely positive towards it,” Physical Plant Director Bob Harrington said.

“I’ve heard from a lot of the staff up there that works in that area that students have been very pleased with it, and I know that the staff has been pleased with it.

“[Renovations] finished out right at about $2.2 million by the time we added in all of the furniture and stuff that we had purchased, as well as the signage.”

Funding for the project came from general funding and capital that had been set aside in the previous year.

“We still have the second floor to do, but it was put off this year because of the budget crunch,” Harrington said.

“I would expect, depending on how the budget comes out either next year or the year after, we’ll proceed with renovations on the second floor.”

Harrington speculated that cost and budget for the second floor renovations on Hearnes would resemble that of the first floor renovation at an estimated $1.5 to $2 million.

“It would be very similar to what we’ve done downstairs,” Harrington said.

“I know that just on the basic design we’ve done, there’s a lot of glass involved in it … to make it look like it’s something brand new and totally change the appearance of that floor also.”

“Probably our next biggest project that we’ll be looking at is trying to figure out how to do something with Reynolds Hall,” Harrington said, “but, again, we have to have the funding to do that, whether it be a bond issue or whatever they decide to do. That’s probably the next building that’s the most necessary to do some remodeling in.”