The official name was approved by the WMU Board of Trustees. The space is now known as ‘Heritage Hall, home of the WMU Alumni Center on Prospect Hill.’ To read more about the new name, please click here.
Every week, new nooks and crannies of the building continue to look finished and ready for inhabitants, but there is still much work to be done before the Grand Opening over Homecoming.
The exterior of the building features a finished cupola and a nearly completed north end enclosure. The south end enclosure’s elevator has not yet been installed, but the brick exterior has been power washed and is ready for the next steps.
The new west entry/lobby addition continues to come together. Around the building, the cornices are in the process of being painted a pale yellow, resembling their previous colors.
Inside the building…
The main stairwell steps are being resurfaced for a smooth finish, once restored, marble will be placed over them. Additionally, the original wrought iron hand rails will be raised to meet current building codes, and reinstalled.
The 1903 room, also known as the library, lacks a permanent floor, but the coffered ceiling is nearly complete. The fireplace from North Hall remains covered in plastic to protect it from paint and other building materials.
Woodwork on the ceilings of the Board of Trustees Conference Room and the Ballroom are also taking shape, providing an idea of the grandeur these rooms will have once finished.
In the corridors, tile is being laid in a pattern that will be found throughout the building.
On the grounds...
Grass is beginning to grow in the area between Heritage Hall and the North Hall facade. Concrete walkways have been poured in some places, and what was once a series of dirt piles is beginning to resemble a lawn space that will soon be fit for a relaxing walk, a casual event, or an upscale affair.