Ashland University is excited to welcome students to the renovated areas of campus that have been improved over the summer.

According to Patrick Ewing, vice president of facilities management and planning, the two most significant projects were the renovations made in Amstutz and Myers Hall.

“We renovated the first, second and third floors of Amstutz Hall and that completes a progressive renovation that we have worked probably over five years to update that facility,” said Ewing.

These renovations include new furniture, bathrooms and laundry rooms. A kitchen and study rooms were built in the lobby as well.  

Secondary to the Amstutz Hall update, half of the Myers Hall bathrooms were fully updated. The bathrooms located in the first, second and third floors of the north end of the dorm are larger and the construction of showers and sinks to aid those with physical disabilities.

“Through surveys and student feedback, we knew that Myers Hall had the worst restrooms in campus,” said Ewing. “So as funds become available, that was a priority, lets improve these restrooms, make the dorm much more habitable and a better retention agent for students than a negative.”

Ewing mentioned that because of limitation of time they were not able to renovate all the bathrooms in the building.

Another significant renovation has been done to the Tom Wurster weight room in Kate’s Gymnasium. The improvements of the weight room include new paint, new flooring, a new HVAC system and the addition of new windows.

Some renovations are not as visible such as the replacement of an AH high pressure water main that runs from Katherine to King Road, the Hugo Young Theater roof, water hitters, new air handler units and an air conditioner was placed in Kate’s Gymnasium.

Among other small but significant renovations were the improvement of sidewalks and    parking lots.

The decision to make these renovations were made at the end of last year, when Ewing met with the board of trustees to talk about refinancing and making these funds available. 

“That was the determining event to say okay, now we are going to move further in these renovations,” said Ewing. 

Ewing got together with various sectors of AU and decided which parts of the campus were a priority to improve.

According to Ewing all these renovations cost approximately $3.5 million. 

$125 thousand was donated for the weight room and the remaining came out of bond refinancing funds.

AU is looking to continue the improvements on the campus. Future renovation plans include finishing Myer’s Hall bathrooms, replacing elevators of different buildings and a significant improvement to the library.