Bowdoin's first years are impressed by newly renovated Hyde and Appleton dorms.
The renovated dorms break the mold of first-year triples and doubles, instead consisting almost exclusively of quads.
"It's a lot easier to find someone you can get along with," said Hyde resident Raya Gabry '10.
"This is a lot nicer than Maine and Winthrop. I really like the quads... they're very spacious," said Alexandra Hyde '10, who lives in Appleton. "I like the setup of two double rooms. I like the study rooms."
Director of Residential Life Kim Pacelli agrees that the renovations were a success.
"I'm very pleased with how the buildings turned out," said Pacelli. "They seem much more spacious and light-filled, and from what I hear from proctors, seem to be effective at fostering a more communal sense among proctor groups because students see each other more often."
"Not many other freshman dorms in other schools could fit three couches, a TV, and a couple of desks in just their common rooms," said first-year Appleton resident Cliff Webster.
The current renovations of Moore and Coleman should be finished near the end of November, according to Pacelli. When the second semester begins, Maine's current residents will move into Moore, while Winthrop's will move into Coleman. Maine and Winthrop's renovations are scheduled to begin after the students move out and will be finished in time for the arrival of the Class of 2011.
The renovations also mean revised house affiliations. Hyde Hall is now affiliated with Quinby House, Appleton Hall with Baxter House, Winthrop/Coleman Halls with MacMillan House, Maine/Moore Halls with Helmreich House, East Hall with Ladd House, and West Hall with Howell House.
Director of Residential Life Kim Pacelli explained why Howell, the chem-free social house, which has traditionally been affiliated with Hyde, is now affiliated with West.
"It became clear as the Class of '10 requests came in over the summer that Hyde, which only has about 70 spaces, wasn't going to be big enough," she said. "That's when we made the decision to use a bigger building for chem-free this year."
After the last round of first-year dorm renovations are finished, school officials will have to decide what to do with the newly constructed East and West Halls.
"It's too soon to tell yet how exactly we'll use East and West for the next academic year," said Pacelli. "There's a bit of a false rumor circulating that those buildings will be completely upper-class housing. If that were true, there wouldn't be enough first-year housing. That said, I expect we'll have some of spaces in first-year buildings available in the housing lottery this coming spring, but we'll finalize those plans in the coming months."
Director of Capital Projects Don Borkowski commented that the ivy that once clung to Hyde and Appleton, as well as the Maine and Winthrop, will soon be destroyed by renovations.
"Maine has got a lot on it. The ivy does damage to the masonry of the buildings, but we realize the aesthetic value of it," he said, noting that there is a chance of ivy being replanted.
"There's been discussions about it, but no plans have been finalized," he said.
Borkowski said that more renovations in the near future are possible.
"We're looking at the hockey arena, and a couple of houses: 80 Federal and [Cleaveland]. We're in the process of interviewing architects for a new fitness center in Morrell gym."