August 24, 2007
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| Associate Professor of Political Science Mike Gunter (left) and Vice President and Treasurer George Herbst in Ward Hall. |
This summer, several buildings on the Rollins College campus underwent renovations. Projects ranged from minor fix-ups to a state-of-the-art residence hall upgrade.
For the first time in the 75 years since the Knowles Memorial Chapel was built, the Chapel underwent masonry restoration. All the natural stone was restored and any damage to the stone and finishes was repaired. Other renovations included exterior painting, new lightning protection on the steeple and the addition of a bathroom to the front of the Chapel.
The Knowles Memorial Chapel was the gift of Frances Knowles Warren, in memory of her father, Francis Bangs Knowles. Mr. Knowles was one of the founders and original trustees of Rollins. The Chapel was dedicated in 1932. “When Mrs. Warren donated the funds for the Chapel, she also set aside an endowment for its maintenance and that funded the entire renovation project,” said Rollins College Vice President and Treasurer George Herbst. “This is a great example of a donor looking ahead to ensure people can enjoy a facility for many years.”
Over the summer, residence facility Ward Hall received a complete renovation. As part of the renovation, a state-of-the-art classroom was added along with a first-floor faculty apartment. “The main goal of this project was to take advantage of the beautiful lakefront setting,” said Herbst. “We wanted to open up the lake views from the entry lobby, student lounge and classroom.”
Ward has 200 beds and is home to a Rollins College Living Learning Community (LLC), where students live with the same students with whom they attend class. The project included a lot of structural work because walls were taken out to make space for the first-ever faculty apartment on campus. Mike Gunter, associate professor of political science, and his wife and two children will be the first family to live in the faculty apartment.
“We are working in every residence hall on campus to change the environments and make them more homelike,” said Herbst. “Our goal is to integrate the academic experience with residential life.” Other summer renovations included work on the Annie Russell Theatre, Pinehurst Cottage, as well as Corrin, Rex Beach, Hooker, McKean and Fox Halls.
