Spectrum - Volume 19 Issue 17 January 23, 1997 - DBHCC renovation project on schedule

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DBHCC renovation project on schedule

By Catherine Doss

Spectrum Volume 19 Issue 17 - January 23, 1997

The second major renovation project in four years at Virginia Tech's Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center is under way and on schedule according to Peter Kipp, director of hotel and operations services.

Work began December 1 on the four-phase renovation that will include conversion of 25 offices into lodging rooms and construction of a new meeting/banquet room. The project is funded through a recent $3.9-million bond issue. Another project occurring simultaneously, although not related to there novation effort, is an upgrade of the center's telephone system.

Phases I and II, which involve installation of a sprinkler system in the hotel and conference center and Alumni Hall, will be completed by March 1 and April15 respectively.

Phase III begins June 1 and involves improvements to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning in all guest rooms as well as the conversion of 25 offices to sleeping accommodations, increasing the total number of guest rooms to 125. The offices slated for conversion formerly housed the faculty and staff for the university's divisions of continuing education and public-service programs. Continuing education has moved into two adjacent buildings on University City Boulevard. Public-service programs has relocated to 1080 South Main Street. Phase III is scheduled for completion October 1.

Phase IV, scheduled to begin in the fall, will establish a 5,000-square-footmeeting/banquet facility between the Commonwealth Dining Room and the bookstore that will accommodate 250-300 people. Completion is anticipated in March 1998.

The telephone upgrade, to be completed by April, will enhance the center's capability to support faculty telecommunications needs and will install simultaneous telephone and telefax lines in each lodging room.

An earlier renovation project being conducted on Alumni Hall will be completed by the end of January. The scope of this work includes a new slate roof, replacement of all windows and external painting of the building. This project was funded through a $2.25-million bond that was issued after the DBHCC was heavily damaged by the flood in May 1992.