Sorority houses to get $13.7M facelift

CORRECTION: Due to a reporting error, the article below incorrectly stated the officials who requested Facilities Management upgrade the Phi Sigma Sigma and Alpha Phi houses. Resident Life officials asked for these renovations to occur. The article has been changed to reflect this correction.

While Facilities Management crews have been busy building and updating several campus buildings this semester, they are also in the midst of renovating the Alpha Phi and Phi Sigma Sigma sorority houses in an effort to spruce up aging student housing facilities.

After Resident Life officials requested Facilities Management upgrade the houses, crews began working on the $13.7 million project — which was made possible by funds allocated by the Division of Student Affairs — in July, and the updates are slated to be completed over the summer. The houses, which are among the most outdated, according to Facilities Management officials, will receive new roofing, windows, mechanical systems, fire alarms and sprinklers, as well as basements accessible to those with disabilities — in compliance with federal law — and entirely revamped interiors.

Sorority members were also allowed to contribute to every step of the building's interior redesign process, said junior communication major Gabby Wooten, who is also a member of Alpha Phi.

"We've picked out everything; we've designed everything from the upholstery to the furniture," Wooten said. "They gave us a say in everything. … Everything is going to be new."

The houses will also be equipped with geothermal technology — meaning the temperature control systems will use natural sources of heat — and are among the first university buildings to utilize the eco-friendly features, according to Facilities Management Director of Capital Projects Bill Olen.

"It helps provide efficient heating and cooling of the building," Olen said.

The buildings will achieve LEED silver certification "at minimum," but the department is striving for LEED gold certification, which was awarded to Oakland Hall, the newest campus dorm.

While the 47-year-old Alpha Phi house is still livable, Wooten said, it is one of a few Greek houses in need of a facelift.

"It was outdated," Wooten said. "All the houses are great, [but] I think Alpha Phi was the one in need of a lot of redoing."

Sophomore physiology and neurobiology major and Alpha Phi member Elana Paris said although there weren't glaring maintenance issues, the interior has been aging.

"It wasn't in bad condition," Paris said. "The wallpaper was a little outdated — it wasn't modern. Everything was just a little outdated."

Some Phi Sigma Sigma members — such as sophomore communication major Emily Bloom, who is also the house manager — said the bedrooms and kitchens were in need of the most sprucing up, and that the house pales in comparison to most Greek houses.

"You would go in the other houses, and our kitchens wouldn't be as nice," Bloom said. "They're trying to make it more homey for the girls living in the house. … It's going to be great, it really is. It's going to be beautiful."

foley@umdbk.com