Guilford College will close Shore Hall after the spring semester to allow workers to address mold issues and install a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, officials have said.

Earlier this year, students living in Shore were given the option of staying in the residence hall or relocating elsewhere on campus after some Board of Trustees members toured the hall following student complaints, said Dean of Students Susanna Westburg.

Health and safety concerns have emerged in several Guilford College dorms due to aging facilities, including reports of mold and unsafe living conditions. 

Mary Hobbs Hall has faced criticism due to the lack of laundry facilities, while students in apartments on the edge of campus have reported additional safety issues. However, Shore Hall, in particular, has been at the center of complaints, with students citing mold growth on air conditioning units. 

Shore Hall is situated near Founders Hall and the Academic Quad, making it a convenient location for students. The hall houses sophomores, juniors and seniors, and while it offers gender inclusive central bathroom facilities on each floor, students have expressed frustration with the quality of the living conditions. 

August Hutchins, a junior double majoring in community justice studies and sociology/anthropology, is one such resident.

“It can be a little musty at times, but I keep my window open and have an air purifier in my room,” Hutchins said. “Some students joke that Shore Hall is like a nuclear zone. 

“That can be frustrating when people make comments about my home,” he added.

Hutchins said he received a notice from the college that said the issues at Shore were “front and center” and being addressed.

Sophomore Zaria Porter, who lives in Bryan Hall, has not experienced mold or heating issues herself but is aware of several students who have faced these challenges. While she personally feels secure in her living space, she expresses genuine concern for her peers who these issues have impacted. 

“Everyone deserves a safe and good living space,” Porter said.

She hopes that the concerns voiced by students will lead to meaningful changes and that the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that all students have access to healthy, comfortable housing. Porter advocates for the resolution of these problems, hoping that the college will prioritize students’ well-being in addressing ongoing living conditions.

As of yet, Westerberg said a timeline for completing the work has not been determined.

Robert Bell, the college’s director of communications, said that Shore is safe but the college has moved students out of the residence hall if they requested to be moved. Bell said work will likely begin later this year on renovating the building.

The Board of Trustees was made aware of Shore’s conditions earlier this year when trustees, including the now-acting President Jean Bordewich, met with students. According to Bell, Bordewich “made it a priority to ensure students felt heard and, more importantly, safe.”

“Our top priority is to ensure students feel safe and comfortable where they are living,” he said.