While BJU students are enjoying summer vacation, Facilities Management and outside contractors will be hard at work to make improvements on campus. Both the visible and subtle summer renovations across campus will make students’ time here safer, more comfortable and more enjoyable.

The main renovation of the summer, the dining common, will begin the Monday after commencement. Chief Facilities Management officer Mr. Steve Hensley said when students arrive in the fall, the dining common will look the same on the outside, but when students go through the lobby and into the main room, things will look quite different.

As Dr. Stephen Jones revealed during Bible Conference, the renovated dining common will usher in new seating, serveries and food. Hensley said new carpet, interior paint colors, chairs, tables and three new serveries are some of the features of the face-lift. Floor space from under the balcony will also be added to accommodate more seating. One renovation in the dining common that you may not see, but that you will appreciate during Greenville’s fluctuating weather, is an updated HVAC system.

If you’re curious about what’s going on in the dining common construction process during the summer months, check out BJU’s website to see a live webcam of the renovation’s progress. Director of utilities Mr. Tom Berg said slow changes will be seen in the beginning of July and daily changes by August.

In addition to the dining common, other places on campus will be revamped. Berg said a new HVAC system will be installed in the Alumni Building by an outside contractor during the early part of the summer. “[The] quietness and comfort will be far superior,” he said.

The large units in the classrooms along with their distracting hum will be replaced by quieter, less intrusive equipment.

The Fremont Fitness Center and the science building annex will be improved with new HVAC equipment as well.

One women’s residence hall will get some remodeling done in the form of new carpet and fresh paint in the halls and new carpet in the rooms.

The exteriors of the Davis Field House and the Activity Center will be covered with a new layer of paint to give the buildings a fresh look. Additional handrails and sink alterations at the DFH will be other items on the Facilities Management checklist for the summer.

Other behind-the-scenes improvements include a new underground water line to align with new fire codes.

Tied with this project, yellow fire hydrants attached to the new water line will be painted red. Berg said red fire hydrants alert firefighters that the hydrant connects directly to a water line designated for fire suppression.

Also, Facilities Management will be repairing the tops of the underground tunnels behind the Smith, Brokenshire and Reveal residence halls.