The power was out at East Hall, the Seelye Center, the Bill Brown Alumni Center, Waldo Stadium, the Physical Plant, and Vandercook Hall on April 11, but it was a scheduled outage. Early that morning, the East Hall transformer was energized and tied back into the electrical loop. East Hall is back on the grid!
Crews are also working to cover the old driveway (previously labeled as the entrance to Lot #2) with dirt. The Drive to Lot #1 is now the access point for both Walwood Hall and the Alumni Center/ East Hall.
New windows are beginning to be installed on the east side of the building. In order to increase the building’s sustainability, new energy efficient windows were designed and constructed to look like the structure’s original windows. (photo at top of page)
Walls are up! The center is starting to resemble a functional building. Radiant in-floor heating has been installed in the women’s restroom and will also be installed in the men's. (Sidebar photo 1)
In the attic, names and graduation dates of students remain on the beams and woodwork, but the space now includes much more vents, tubes, and conduits. (Sidebar photo 2)
On the outside…
Around the west side of the building, the new entry is well underway. Most of the exterior masonry repairs have been completed, and the plastic wrap will start to be removed once the windows have been installed. (Sidebar photo 3)
The north edge of the building is shown; the new enclosure will house the men’s restroom, storage space, and a stairwell. The image shows that the enclosure is beginning to be covered with bricks. (Sidebar photo 4)
The portico, which faces downtown Kalamazoo, is quickly coming together. The retaining wall that sweeps out over the edge of Prospect Hill will soon be bricked over. The daffodils (not pictured) growing on the hill below the wall were a pleasant and unexpected sight for workers and visitors. (Sidebar photo 5)
The portico will feature donated 4” x 8” and 12” x 12” engraved brick pavers. If you are interested in making a gift for a brick for yourself or a loved one, please visit MyWMU.com/AlumniCenter.
There are also opportunities to be included on the Wall of Honor, which will include a spot on the interactive touch screen in the lobby; and to name many spaces and features within the building.