Residence halls to undergo comprehensive renovations

As part of the Campus Living master plan, Brian Hamluk, vice president for student life, has announced a plan for a comprehensive renovation of the North and South campus residence halls. The projects, which will take place over the next two years, will change the landscape of UB’s residential communities to better reflect the needs of today’s students.

“I am excited to announce the start of renovations on our South Campus in Goodyear and Clement halls,” Hamluk says. “This initial project, which includes both structural and visual enhancements when complete in the summer of 2023, will help provide our students with the modern facilities they need to be comfortable and successful at UB.”

In order for the work to be completed, Goodyear and Clement will remain unoccupied during the 2022-23 academic year. All students will be housed on the North Campus for the year until the South Campus project is finished.

Work in Clement will include upgrades to bedrooms and bathrooms, including lighting improvements and modern flooring. Work will be done to the exterior of Goodyear Hall to protect the building structure and complete a roof replacement. Additional cosmetic enhancements will be completed in both buildings, and Wi-Fi will be upgraded. The work aligns with the university’s overall goal for the South Campus, restoring both its physical beauty and its intellectual and social vitality.

Campus Dining and Shops, which recently invested significant resources to enhance the food service areas on the South Campus, will use this transitional period to engage additional opportunities to improve the overall dining experience for residential students living in these facilities.

UB’s oldest and most historic residence halls, Goodyear and Clement have long been an anchor of the Campus Living community, and the upcoming work will allow these facilities to continue to play an important role in serving UB residential students well into the future.

Hamluk also has announced major enhancements coming to the North Campus residence halls, including a student-focused facility that will define a front door to the Ellicott Complex. This new construction in Fargo Quad, expected to open in fall 2024, will have multi-purpose amenities, including an atrium, group meeting areas and interactive event spaces.

“The university’s recent financial commitment of $36 million toward these capital projects illustrates an ongoing commitment to creating environments that allow our residential students to succeed both academically and personally,” Hamluk says “We are grateful that our university leadership has partnered with the Division of Student Life in support of these much-anticipated capital improvements.”

As part of the multi-year transitional plan, the South Campus residence halls will reopen in summer 2023, in time for construction to begin in Fargo Quad.

“We are fortunate that the university has the facilities available to complete these upgrades without displacing our student body,” Hamluk says. “While there is disruption with any construction project, we are confident that during this time we can continue to provide the same exceptional service to students that call our campus home.”