Current residents of Loyola Hall were informed via email by Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life Charles Clency that the current renovations on the building, which started prior to the fall 2021 semester, are expected to be completed by Nov. 30.
The renovations to the building’s exterior have resulted in the presence of scaffolding on the south and east sides of the building, according to Clency’s email to residents. “The work will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. through 4 p.m. as well as Saturdays beginning Sept. 30, 2023 concluding on Nov. 30, 2023,” read the email. It was not specified what renovations were being made to the building.
Some students have said that the noise caused by the construction can be bothersome, although workers have been instructed to work during hours where most students are out of the building.
“On a day I might have a later class and have been doing homework late at night, to be awoken by drills with a person outside my window is abundantly distracting to my sleep, which is pertinent for students,” said Owen Mullaney, FCRH ’27.
Rucha Kulkarni, FCRH ’27, shared a similar sentiment.
“The construction is not very distracting to me as I’m usually out of the room during the day, but it can be a nuisance when I’m in my room trying to do homework or take a nap and I can hear people drilling and hammering outside.”
Clency’s email stated privacy screens were added to windows to prevent workers from being able to see into the building. The screens are tinted blue, which many students have not expressed much interest over.
“During the day, the privacy screens make the whole room look blue,” said Aspen Collins, GSB ’27.“It puts a strain on our eyes, but it’s also just an annoyance not having a view outside of our windows.”
While Collins’ room is only partly blocked by the scaffolding, other students’ windows are fully covered by the ongoing construction.
“I can’t open the windows to get fresh air, making the room feel stuffy,” said Nico Llorente, FCRH ’27.
“With the lack of my ability to keep my windows open because of the [privacy screens] and scaffolding, I become disoriented by what time of day it is and that affects my daily circadian rhythm,” said Mullaney.
“I don’t like the scaffolding, it’s terrible,” said Loubo Dachev, FCRH ’27. “It blocks my view, and there’s no natural light — it’s depressing and having no natural light affects the mental health of students.”
Some students have shared that the privacy tape does not cover their windows completely, leaving them to keep their blinds closed, sacrificing natural light to protect their privacy.
“My roommates and I don’t feel comfortable keeping our blinds open as there are often men working outside,” said Kulkarni.
“The blue tape does not cover my windows perfectly, so workers can see into my room,” said Dachev.
To some, the scaffolding is not as much of a nuisance. “The scaffolding doesn’t really bother me at all,” said Issac Singh, GSB ’27. His roommate, Aidan Nanquil, FCRH ’27, shared the same sentiment, adding that “the noise is a bit loud in the mornings, but otherwise it’s not much of a hassle.”
Some students have even expressed an appreciation for the university in renovating the building.
“I appreciate that upkeep and restoration of old buildings is an important process,” Maddie Bruns, FCRH ’27, said.
“I can understand that it takes a lot of time, but that said, the construction has seemed to be going on for a while. While they’ve set an end period, I hope it will be kept to.”
