Centenary Renewal Well Under Way

new paved parking lot

SHREVEPORT, LA — A $5 million reinvestment in the campus of Centenary College undertaken in conjunction with a $500,000 grant from the U. S. Department of Justice has made marked improvements across campus this summer.

Mickle Hall of Science, home to Centenary's natural and physical sciences program, has been the focus of much of the renovation. Around $1 million has been committed to projects that include updating roofing and restrooms, lab renovations, and painting throughout the building. New furniture will be put in place once the work is complete.

Returning students will note many changes in and around the residence halls. The covered breezeway connecting Sexton, James, and Hardin Residence Halls now provides extra shade. Renovations to Hardin Hall are now complete, which means students will find new paint, flooring, and countertops in rooms, bathrooms, hallways, and common areas throughout the dorm. Improved security for the residence halls is being delivered through the installation of key card entrances as part of the Department of Justice grant. The parking lots located behind James and Hardin Residence Halls are currently being re-paved and are expected to be complete around the time classes begin on August 22. Brick pavers will be added to the parking lot entries to identify walkways.

Guests visiting the campus to take in a show at the Marjorie Lyons Playhouse will observe new chairs, carpeting, and painting. A new energy-efficient HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system will help keep the student actors comfortable on stage. New outdoor signs will help to better direct off-campus guests to the Playhouse.

A number of fire safety issues across campus have been resolved. Fire code issues were addressed for the work rooms, restrooms and stairways in Mickle Hall of Science. New doors were installed in Mickle and the Gold Dome, and emergency exit doors were corrected in James Residence Hall. Roof repairs to address leaks are in progress for Mickle Hall of Science, Kilpatrick Auditorium, Moore Student Union Building, and the Feazel Instrumental Hall.

Centenary's sustainability initiative has benefited from a number of the projects in the campus renewal. The Hurley Music Building is currently undergoing HVAC renovations that will continue for three to four weeks while Jackson Hall boasts a completed HVAC overhaul. Throughout the summer, motion sensors have been installed in offices and classrooms campus-wide to promote energy conservation. New LED outdoor lights will soon replace older, less efficient models. All of these updates are a part of a larger energy management control system installed to monitor energy usage and reduce energy consumption on campus.

"The slated improvements will enhance the infrastructure necessary to support the campus as an active, living-learning environment," said David Rowe, Centenary College President, when the initiative was announced in April. "These campus investments will have an immediate transformational impact on campus, and we look forward to creating an even more inviting place to live, learn, and lead."

A project slated for the future includes replacing the boiler at the library for improved reliability and energy conservation. Renovations for Cline Residence Hall, Rotary Hall Suites, and the Mickle Hall of Science elevator are scheduled to take place next summer.

Centenary Renewal was launched in May 2011 to renovate the campus physical infrastructure while improving the energy efficiency and sustainability features of campus life.

About Centenary College of Louisiana

Centenary College is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South and has been recognized as "One of the Best 371 Colleges" by the Princeton Review and one of "America's Best Colleges" and one of "America's Best Private Colleges" by Forbes.com. In 2008 Centenary College celebrated 100 years in Shreveport and Bossier City.