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Spectator tour of new Minor Theater

By Sirianna Santacrose ’15

The housing lottery is always a stressful time: rising juniors and seniors vie for Dark Side suites and singles across campus, while rising sophomores simply try to avoid the inevitable walk up the Hill from Bundy at all costs. This year’s lottery will mostly likely prove to be more stressful than most, as a brand new dorm will be on the market.

Since April 2014, Minor Theater has been undergoing the transformation from a theatre to a dormitory, eliciting excitement and anticipation across campus for its fall 2015 release date. Next year, 52 students and one Residential Advisor will have the chance to live in a three-floor, suite-style dorm on the Light Side. A 6,300 square foot addition was built onto the original structure to provide enough space for nine suites. Eight six-person suites include two doubles, two singles, two bathrooms, a kitchenette and a common room. The three person suite will be the same, though with only one double and one single. The RA suite is located on the top floor.  If the ideal location near the library and gym were not enough, the dorm will also feature heated floors, energy efficient windows and high efficiency LED lighting.

This will not be the first major change the building has experienced. It was originally built as the Hiram Perry Smith Library in 1872 and then converted to the Knox Infirmary in 1924. In 1961, it was renovated into Minor Theater, which has hosted numerous theater productions over the years. When plans for the creation of the Kevin and Karen Kennedy Center for Theatre and Studio Arts were proposed, the decision to convert Minor Theater into a dorm solidified.

Construction, headed by the general contractor HR Beebe Construction of Utica, is scheduled to finish on July 13 of this year, allowing time for furniture to be moved inside and any last-minute issues to be resolved before students arrive in August. The name of the building will change to reflect its new function and will be announced at a future date.

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