Pictured is an architectural drawing of the Appleton Arena George W. Karpus ’68 Athletic Center that is expected to be completed Sept. 1, 2024. Photo courtesy of St. Lawrence University.

North Country This Week

CANTON – When St. Lawrence University students return for the fall semester next week, they will see more than $4 million in renovations at the student center, library, residence hall lounges, along with numerous other facelifts throughout the campus.

Projected enrollment numbers for the 2023-24 academic year were not available, according to school officials.

Immediately following commencement in May, St. Lawrence University began work fueled by a $30 million initiative to invest in facilities over the next three years, with a priority on renovating residence halls and other student spaces to enhance the living-learning experience for students.  

“Upon and soon after their return to campus, students will see the results of the $4.1 million in improvements completed thus far, including new flooring and furnishings in the Sullivan Student Center and Owen D. Young Library. Renovations to student lounges in Priest, Reiff, Gaines, Sykes, Dean Eaton, and Whitman residence halls feature new, dimmable LED lighting, fresh paint in brighter colors, flooring, furnishings, and TVs,” noted Kim Asch, Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing at St. Lawrence. “Heat pump systems have been installed to provide energy-efficient heating and—for the first time in these spaces— cooling.”

Several lounges also feature electric fireplaces. Several lounges also feature fireplaces with electric inserts so students can enjoy sitting with their friends by the fire. 

“In addition, energy-efficient windows have been installed in one of our oldest buildings, Dean Eaton, which we expect to make a very noticeable difference in keeping rooms warm during the winter. And the phased roofing project is one-third complete. We are also currently working with an architectural and engineering firm to design a solution for improving the exterior skin of the building,” said Asch.

Asch also pointed out that design for the renovation of Rebert is complete, and the University is currently costing out the job, which they expect to be in the range of $2.5-3 million. 

“We will begin renovations on the south and east wings soon, which will include the construction of an all-new main lounge located in the corridor between north wing and south wing. The north wing will be the only wing occupied by students in the fall semester, and this wing will be renovated in spring 2024,” she said. 

Work on the main lounge in Lee will be complete by mid-September. The renovation of Lee main lounge will feature all of the upgrades mentioned above—improved flooring, freshly painted walls, upgraded furnishings, electric fireplace, new TV—plus a newly installed acoustical “wave” ceiling and an accessible pathway and door leading directly to the outside patio. There, students will be able to gather with friends around a newly installed gas fire pit.

“I am pleased to share that the largest portion of this investment will go toward student spaces. A thorough refresh of many of our residence halls will have a significant positive impact on the student experience,” University President Kathryn A. Morris stated.

“We want our students to take pride in their residence halls,” added Bob Hance, associate vice president for facilities management and chief facilities officer who is overseeing the project. “Our projects will greatly enhance student lounges, bathrooms, lighting, flooring, and furnishings. These are the spaces where students interact and the things they see as soon as they walk into a new space.”

The facilities enhancement initiative will also help St. Lawrence demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and energy conservation.

“All residence halls will be upgraded to LED,” Hance said. “LED lights use much less energy than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and they last longer, which is better for the environment. Many of our new LED lights will also be dimmable. That, too, will help reduce the amount of energy we use and this kind of adjustable lighting is very popular. Lighting is just as subjective as temperature in a space. We expect students will appreciate the options this kind of lighting will give them.”  

St. Lawrence also invested in safety upgrades by installing card access to every campus building, as well as technology that enables buildings to be locked remotely. 

“All of these enhancements will make our beautiful campus a more comfortable, secure place for our students to call home,” Hance says.

Appleton Arena Expansion

A little more than a year away, construction on the philanthropy-funded Appleton Arena George W. Karpus ’68 Athletic Center is under way, with a completion date set for Sept. 1, 2024. The Karpus Athletic Center will be the home of the Saints rowing, lacrosse, field hockey and softball teams, but will lay the foundation for health and wellness across all our Division-III programs. 

The Karpus Athletic Center involves an expansion of the Michael “Buddy” Cornacchia ’74 Strength and Conditioning Center for student-athletes, an athletic training and treatment center, a dedicated strategy room for coaches, a player’s lounge, and a video/media room.

When the new complex is complete, the University will revamp the current strength and conditioning space in the Stafford Fitness Center to create a larger fitness area for all students, faculty, and staff. Increasing access will ensure that all in the Laurentian community have the opportunity to achieve their health and wellness goals.