Circulating rumors about a supposed large chunk of money set aside for the renovation of Founders Hall are only half true.
The Bauman Estate promises a 2.2 million-dollar gift to Guilford College for building renovations. The Baumans also contributed greatly to the Bauman computer labs. But the gift is not nearly enough to meet costs.
“The original projection at the start of the campaign in1995 was stated as $5 million. I don’t believe the cost of furnishings or things like that were included [in the estimate],” said Leslie Daisy, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations in the Institutional Advancement office.
Renovations won’t begin any time soon. The Board of Trustees has mandated that no renovations will begin until all monies necessary are available.
That could very well take a while. With the economy the way it is, not as many people have money to give to the college.
It’s likely that the people who currently roam Founders Hall will be the ones to fund its renovation.
“People who are involved with Community Senate, who work for The Guilfordian, people who volunteer for the Bonner program or whatever, those are people who actually use the building a lot in addition to people who just walk through to get mail or eat or go to the bookstore or just hang out and have fun. These will be people who have a special affinity for wanting Founders to be more of a center than it is now,” said Daisy.
Some are pleased at the prospect of renovation.
“[I wish] we could knock out the walls and have the bookstore taken off campus,” says Co-op member James Croonenberghs. “Then we could expand here so we actually have a lounge, some area, where we could have musicians come and play. We could have sofas in there, and just have like a couple of tables around, and actually make it like a coffee house atmosphere.”
The proposed schematics shows Croonenberghs’ idea as a distinct possibility. It depicts Founders Hall as viewed from the handicapped entrance. The entire area is walled in, with skylights.
The ground will also be lowered, allowing access to the mailroom without going down stairs, but making them necessary for access to Boren Lounge and the Cafeteria.
The schematic projects an open, airy feel to Founders Hall. The current schematic is only tentative and subject to change.
Croonenberghs may get his wish – but not for a few years, and only if he can donate the funds to get the job done.
Other students are not as pleased with the prospect of renovation.
“I think that Founders is pretty much okay,” says graduating third-year Laura Myerchin. “Priorities are in the wrong places. There are better ways the money can be spent.