Johnson Hall gets 84-day summer makeover
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Even though the campus may be a little quieter during the summer months, a flurry of activity is taking place in Johnson Hall.
As students headed off campus for the summer and before spring commencement had even taken place, the university launched a $4 million, 84-day renovation of the original portion of Johnson Hall, a women’s residence hall built in 1947.
The renovation on the original portion of the building will include a lobby redesign with additional commons areas added; upgraded HVAC systems; new lighting; new furniture and fixtures in rooms, lobbies and corridors; new walls; new carpet and flooring; and new, larger restrooms. The head resident apartment will also be renovated.
“We are completely gutting the rooms, common spaces and restrooms,” said Mike Engelman, director of campus construction. “When the residents return this fall, they will walk into a dorm that looks dramatically different than when they left.”
Engelman said the 148-bed wing that was added in 2004 will also get a refresh this summer that includes repainting and new carpet and flooring.
Johnson is the fourth residence hall to receive major renovations since 2011. Last summer, High Rise residence hall was renovated last summer.
Johnson Hall was named for Helena Haralson “Grandma” Johnson, who gave $96,000 in the early 1940s to initiate the construction of Johnson Hall. Instrumental in the founding of both National Life and Accident Insurance Company and Life and Casualty Insurance Company, Johnson was a longtime supporter of Lipscomb and of Christian education.
Johnson was often on Lipscomb’s campus and eventually had an apartment in Sewell Hall, a women’s residence hall at the time. Because she was older, students came to call her “Grandma” Johnson. When Johnson Hall was constructed, an apartment was built for Johnson in the lower level of that building.
Construction is scheduled for completion in August.