The renovation of Maple Hall is still slightly behind schedule, but Department of Residence officials are confident the building will be completed for fall 1999.

Construction on the hall began last summer.

Maple Hall is the first structure to undergo renovation as part of the department’s ambitious Master Plan.

Randy Alexander, director of Residence, said the department is closely monitoring Maple Hall’s progress.

“Maple Hall is our pilot project, so we can look at what amenities and programs will work,” he said.

Virginia Arthur, associate director of Residence, said she is assured about the project and its completion date.

“In general, the process is close to schedule and should be finished in time for fall of 1999,” she said.

Alexander said department officials are hoping the hall will be completed around July 15.

“We’re behind a little but not to the point of concern,” he said.

The renovated hall will have a capacity of 488 residents, a decrease from the 536 residents that it was expected to house, he said.

“The loss is due to the computer labs and the small group study rooms,” he said.

The rooms in the renovated Maple Hall will be assigned out on a first-come, first-serve basis, Arthur said. She said there will be an application process students must go through to obtain a suite.

“They will be asked things like why they are interested in living in Maple and what they will contribute to the environment,” she said.

Alexander said the department anticipates that 75 percent of the residents will be freshmen.

Although a few suites will be completed early for demonstration, Alexander said department officials are hesitant to take anyone through the hall due to construction hazards.

Arthur said the outside of the building will not have many visual changes, but the interior will have many significant differences.

“Everything from heating and cooling controls in the rooms, individual bathrooms and sinks in the rooms are in the renovation plans,” she said.

Lighting was another problem the department tackled, Alexander said.

“A big concern among students was the lack of lighting, so we’ve improved that significantly,” he said.

Some other features of the new Maple Hall will include a regular kitchen on each floor, study rooms, computer labs and two suites on each floor.

“We expect the suites will be the first to go among returning residents,” Alexander said.

The increase for a room in Maple Hall will be an additional $266 and a suite will be an additional $390.