The replacement of tables and chairs in the main common area at Sir James Dunn Hall over the summer is among many changes to the building over the past few years, said Jeffrey Carleton, St. Thomas University communications director.
Carleton said it was time to upgrade the seating in the building, which the university did at a cost of $52,000.
“Furniture has a shelf life and there was a lot of wear and tear on that furniture,” he said.
Carleton said he saw people taking to social media to say they would miss the round, green tables in James Dunn Hall, so some of those tables and chairs were moved to the building’s basement.
With a total of 143 seats in the building’s common areas, there are 23 more seats this school year than the year previous.
Carleton said that, in the last two years, the building’s north end has undergone extensive renovations to accommodate the student lounge which opened last year along with the Wabanaki Resource Centre on the second floor.
“In this case, there has been a conscious decision made by president and vice chancellor Dawn Russell to, over time, start to do things that impact the student experience,” Carleton said.
The tables and chairs at the George Martin Hall and Forest Hill cafeterias were also replaced during the summer. Carleton said both dining areas were painted and a soft seating area was installed in the Forest Hill cafeteria as part of Aramark’s $915,000 dining room refurbishment plan.
“There was a fair bit of work done this summer that students will immediately see,” Carleton said.
When asked if STU has any plans to retrofit its residences, Carleton said upgrades are in early stages and the specifics remain unclear.
