Residence Hall Rehabilitation Projects

SUNY Downstate Medical Center is currently engaged in several rehabilitation projects within the residence halls located at 811 and 825 New York Avenue. These projects, which total over $2 million in cost, will better the residential life community on campus and improve student satisfaction with the residence halls. A brief description of each project and our progress on them is listed below. Please feel free to contact the Residential Life and Services staff if you have any questions. You may also e-mail us at residentiallife@downstate.edu

Kitchenette Replacement

kitchenette replacement A project to replace the existing kitchenette units in studio and one-bedroom apartments was recently completed. Several prototypes were tested prior to the installation of the new units. Plans were developed and reviewed with the Residence Hall Council and installation began this spring. The old kitchenette units are pictured on the right. To the far right are the new units. The new kitchenette units have all new appliances including a full size refrigerator/freezer, new cabinetry and beautiful Corian countertops. Feedback on the new units has been excellent. The increased refrigerator and freezer space allows students to shop once every two weeks instead of every two days and should eliminate the expense of having to purchase or rent an additional refrigerator..

Video, Voice, and Data Project

Computer Lab The first floor of 811 New York Avenue and the study room are now hard wired, making both desk top and wireless Internet access possible. The Technology Committee, a student organization, provided the new study room computers, which has been a tremendous benefit to students. Work began on wiring student rooms for access in May 2002 and is now complete. Residents have satellite television with network and premium channels. Among the 50 channels available to students living in the residence halls includes, but is not limited to HBO, ESPN, MTV, BET, and more. Internet access is faster and more convenient for residents as everyone online has access to the library and other academic supports via the World Wide Web right from their room. The residence halls will also have phone service available. The service package is less expensive than the high connection, long distance, and line charges of competing vendors and includes extension dialing and voice mail. Wireless Internet access will also become available throughout the residence halls in the 2005-06 academic year.

Renovation of the Reception Desk

Renovations to our reception desk are complete. In addition to being a more visually pleasing entryway for students and guests, the new office serves as a platform for expanded services to students and reduces administrative costs by streamlining processes. As part of this project, all persons living in the residence halls have new mailboxes, which are more convenient, more attractive, and are much easier to maintain. They are key operated and do not requcombination.

811 Third Floor Common Area Kitchen

Kitchen Area TYork Avenue is complete and it is a substantial improvement of services for students living in standard rooms. The new kitchen includes new 30” electric radiant ranges, which are easier to maintain and have an expandedcooking area. There are also new cabifor storage, neplumbing fixtures, and counter space for food preparation. Resident Assistants have used the new space to launch programs for their residents that included a Holiday Feast and a Sushi Making Workshop.

Elevator Rehabilitation

The project to rehabilitate the elevators in the residence halls is now complete. The project included replacing the controllers and electrical relays. We also replaced the digital displays both inside and outside the elevator cabs so that residents are aware of the location of the elevator. The rehabilitation has resulted in more consistent and convenient service to building residents.

Ceiling Panels and Light fixtures

In years past, residents were concerned about lighting in the hallways. Last year, we replaced the light fixtures and the ceiling tiles in hallways. The result is brighter and longer lasting lighting for efficiency, which translates into savings for students, safety, and comfort. Replacing the ceiling tiles also helped to substantially brighten up the hallways. It’s also helpful because the new ceiling tiles can be replaced much easier than their former metal counterparts, which were difficult to obtain and to fit back together without appearing unsightly. The new tiles are also very accessible for anyone who may need to perform work above the ceiling.

Furniture Upgrades

Furniture replacement is a constant feature in the residence halls. We have replaced sofas and tables in the residence hall lounges and purchased new bedroom furniture. The new bedroom furniture features a desk carrel with a lamp, a desk with a keyboard pull-out, two dressers and a bed. It also includes a desk pedestal with a drawer for hanging files. Both the bed and the dressers are adjustable. Many students have chosen to adjust the height of their beds so that they may place the dressers underneath them or use the additional space for storage. The increased space provides students with more flexibility in their rooms, making student rooms a more comfortable environment for relaxation and study.

Shower Wall, Shower Body, and Plumbing Fixture Replacement

Shower walls, shower bodies, and plumbing fixtures are being replaced on an as needs basis throughout the residence halls. New fixtures include valves for sinks and showers, new diverters, and faucets. By upgrading these bathrooms, we are eliminating an increasing number of plumbing problems as well as making the bathrooms more attractive and comfortable for students.

Replacement of Electrical Feeder Cables

This electrical upgrade was necessary in order to pave the way for the video, voice, and data project. The upgrade provided us with additional capacity and makes us less prone to power outages.

Pre-cast Panel Project

All of the pre-cast panels on the outside of the building in 811 and 825 New York Avenue were re-secured. This project had two major implications. First, it secured the panels to ensure the safety of residents and secondly, the panels were resealed when they were secured in order to prevent water infiltration, which was a problem in previous years.

Connecting Link

A bridge was built to connect buildings 811 and 825 New York Avenue. The project was important for several reasons and resulted in greater convenience for residents, a shared sense of community for residents, enhanced student safety, and reduced costs. The bridge also served as a conduit for some aspects of the video, voice, and data project.

Carpets

All lounge and hallway carpets in the residence halls were replaced. In addition to being more ascetically pleasing, the carpets dampen or reduce noise in the residence halls.

Valve Replacement

Students usually don’t see this type of project as it takes place behind the walls, but it has nonetheless proved helpful. By replacing valves on the 10th floor of each residence hall, we have been able to localize shutdowns. In other words, it is now possible to complete many plumbing repairs without shutting down water in an entire residence hall. For the most part, shutdowns will only affect a handful of rooms at a time when they are necessary.

Study Room

In addition to being wired for Internet access in 2001, the study room received a makeover. It included new furniture, a fresh coat of paint, and unexpanded number of computer drops and computers.

Air Conditioning

Although the residence halls are not fully air conditioned, we have been able to install large window units in the study room and in the recreation room so that students have a comfortable place to relax and study during the summer months.

Study Carrels

In addition to upgrading the lounge furniture and bedroom furniture, study carrels were purchased for the residence halls so that students could have a private place to study in the lounges on their floors. Although most students prefer to study in their residence hall rooms or in the library, the carrels provide a nice alternative for students looking for a new environment for quiet study.

Student feedback regarding these projects is critical in order to continue serving our students in the future. Please feel free to contact the Residential Life staff if you have any questions or concerns. You can also tell us what you think by using the department’s e-mail address residentiallife@downstate.edu or by attending Residence Hall Council Meetings which are held on the second Wednesday of every month at 6:00 pm. See the department calendar for details.