Shipstad Hall will remain closed until at least the 2025-26 school year, delayed from its anticipated opening this past August, as the University addresses declining enrollment by reducing on-campus housing and undertaking extensive renovations.
According to Director of Residence Life Andrew Weingarten, the two-year closure comes after the Office of Residence Life determined that all 11 residence halls were not needed to accommodate current on-campus residents.
According to the Vice President of Student Affairs Fr. John Donato, the University can comfortably house nearly 2,050 students.
However, on-campus student residence is well below capacity. There are currently 1,520 students living on campus, which leaves 500-600 beds not in use.
The Office of Residence Life aims to maintain student occupancy in residence halls at 85-100% — which Weingarten sees as an opportunity to build more community within the halls.
“That’s why we closed it,” Weingarten said. “It was apparent that something had to close so that we would drive up occupancy in all of the remaining halls so that life in those halls was fun and vibrant, which was our goal.”
Director of Facilities Services Joe Cates notes that the 57-year-old building requires significant updates, including new flooring in common areas, updated lighting and paint, partial roof replacement, HVAC renewal, furniture upgrades, new safety fencing in stairwells and an elevator overhaul for students to live comfortably.
“We could have done work while [students] were in the building, but it would have been a hassle for them,” Cates said. “It would have cost more money, and then even keeping that building going [involves] more utility costs, more carbon footprint, [especially] if we have the opportunity to better use our space on campus.”
Shipstad Hall continues to house the University Archives and Museum and is utilized for summer conferences. As renovation progresses, the building will remain on standby for student residents until needed again.
“In the next few months we'll firm up our plan, we'll consult with students [and] we'll start getting contractors in,” Donato said. “Target date is to finish in early summer, so that we can have conferences there this summer, and then a little break so we can get it all cleaned up and have it ready for the [2025-26 school] year.”
Kalena O’Connell is a News Reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at oconnell27@up.edu
