Current Articles
Volume 8, Issue 2

Burke-Hawthorne Hall renovations make progress
By Anuradha K. Herath

The long wait for a new Burke-Hawthorne Hall may be very well worth it. The building, which is scheduled to be open for classes in Spring 2009, is expected to provide students and faculty with technologically modern classrooms and an overall better ambiance, according to architect Paul Lemaire of Corne-Lemaire Group.

Acting head and professor of communication at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette) Dr. William R. Davie said the new building will provide long-awaited facilities, which are essential to the department.

“The Burke-Hawthorne renovation meets some long overdue needs – computer lab space necessary to meet the demands of digital convergence in our curriculum,” Davie said. “We have students focusing on communication (Interpersonal/Organizational), Advertising, Journalism, Public Relations and Broadcasting, yet they all need more computer lab time that this remodeled facility will help resource for them. We are also happy to see additional space available for offices and meeting rooms where students and faculty can confer over semester projects and hold meetings.”

Burke-Hawthorne is home to the Communication and Communicative Disorders departments, KRVS radio station and a performing arts theater.

“It was old and dingy,” Lemaire said of the old building. “These renovations [have been] waiting on funding for 15 to 20 years.”

The entire project has a budget of approximately $11.7 million. Lemaire said a considerable amount of those funds has gone toward removing the dilapidated parts of the old building. But the main structure of the building, which was built in 1939, is still in good condition.

“The skeleton is very well built,” said Lemaire. “We’re basically taking it down to the skeleton and coming back again.”

“We have all of the demolition done,” said project manager of BEO Construction Darrell Savoy on the status of the renovations. “We’re beginning to erect the new walls that we have to put up.”

Director of UL Lafayette’s physical plant Bill Crist said about 40 percent of the renovation project has been completed so far. He said the feature that is consuming the most time is the construction of the auditorium, which will be completely restructured with a new control room, lighting system and stadium-like seating.

With a few exceptions, nearly all amenities of the renovated building will be replaced. It will have a new electrical system, air conditioning, plumbing, windows, doors, floors and lighting.

Along with the renovation, BEO Construction is simultaneously carrying out construction on the new addition to Burke-Hawthorne, which consists of two structures – a one-story and a two-story. Savoy described the status of that portion of the project.

“We just finished putting in the foundation on the one-story,” Savoy said. “On the two-story, we’re erecting steel.”

“Next week, they’ll start putting the roof structure up and then the roof,” said Crist, who added that the new structure is about 20 percent finished but the work is progressing on schedule.

Once complete, the new wing will include a modern lecture room on the second floor. Lemaire called it an “intelligent room” with built-in presentation facilities and computer connections at each desk. The improvements, Lemaire says, will provide better classrooms and make the building more energy-efficient.

The new Burke-Hawthorne Hall will be noticeably different from the old one. After many decades, students and faculty will be able to enjoy state-of-the-art classrooms, comfortable office rooms and well-equipped computer labs.