A Department of Residence official informed the Inter-Residence Hall Association Thursday that Fisher-Nickell Hall will be closing in May and will not reopen.

John Shertzer, IRHA adviser, said Fisher-Nickell residence hall, located in Richardson Court Association, will close in May.

Shertzer said the closing of the residence hall was not directly related to the budget deficit this year, but will save the Department of Residence money by cutting down on the maintenance cost of the building.

According to the Department of Residence Master Plan, Fisher-Nickell was not slated to close.

“The main reason [to close Fisher-Nickell Hall] is the status of the roof; the expense to fix it is too high,” Shertzer said.

The costs that would go into maintenance expenses will now go to other funds, he said.

Shertzer said the Department of Residence has notified the 40 residents of the situation and has held a meeting with the residents to make sure they understand the situation.

Patrick Phippen, Richardson Court Association hall director, said the cross-cultural program that was housed in Fisher-Nickell Hall will be moved to Devitt House in Linden Hall.

Phippen said Fisher-Nickell Hall will stand unoccupied until decisions are made for its future.

Raymond Gandayuwana, freshman in pre-architecture and resident of Fisher-Nickell, said he found out that Fisher-Nickell hall would close last week in a house meeting.

“I was surprised. I never expected Fisher-Nickell to close.”

Gandayuwana said he is thinking about living in Linden or an apartment next year.

Chris Smith, freshman in history, said he was notified last Tuesday of the closing.

“This sucks,” Smith said. “We have a real tight-knit community and the building itself is unique.”

Smith said many of the students who live there now will try to move as a house to a new residence hall, he said.

Smith said he doesn’t know where he will live next year. “It’s too soon to decide.”