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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (August 23, 2001)—Students at Milligan College started fall semester classes yesterday, August 22, in the newly-renovated Derthick Hall. Construction crews have worked non-stop since early May on the $2.5 million renovation project. The building is nearing completion and 90 percent of the classrooms were ready, as expected, for fall semester classes.
Perhaps one of the students’ favorite features of the newly renovated building is the air-conditioning. Other interior improvements include reconfigured walls for classroom space, new flooring and ceilings on all three main floors, electrical raceways for the power and communication wiring, a lecture hall, computer and language laboratories, and new windows throughout the building. Vast improvements to a building originally built in 1919.
Milligan president Don Jeanes said finishing touches are still taking place, and the interior work should be completed by early September. New furniture and equipment continues to arrive and be installed, and computer labs are being wired. The classrooms and offices on the first floor are also nearing completion and hope to be in full use within two weeks.
“Our contractor has been working around the clock and done a great job,” said Jeanes. “We really appreciate the patience and understanding of the students and faculty as we finish up a few loose ends on the project. It is a beautiful building and will serve our faculty and students well. We are all very pleased with the new facilities.”
Exterior work will continue on the building for several more weeks. Over the course of the summer, the building exterior was re-bricked, a sloped roof was added, and the south façade is being redesigned.
The Derthick Hall renovation is part of the Central Campus project and the Strategic Funding Initiatives announced in April. The plan will also include the creation and beautification of a Campus Commons and the construction of a new Campus Center.