Hashinger receives face lift

By By Matt Elder

Monday, August 14, 2006

Julie Bayliff, Overland Park sophomore, awaits the elevator on the ground floor of Hashinger Hall yesterday. As of Sunday, Hashinger Hall&squot;s total occupancy was reported at 370. The hall&squot;s desk manager, Olathe senior Malakai Edison, said the chaos seemed to be at a minimum as of mid-afternoon:

Photo by Ryan McGreeney

KANSAN

Julie Bayliff, Overland Park sophomore, awaits the elevator on the ground floor of Hashinger Hall yesterday. As of Sunday, Hashinger Hall's total occupancy was reported at 370. The hall's desk manager, Olathe senior Malakai Edison, said the chaos seemed to be at a minimum as of mid-afternoon: "Hash is not an early-rise kind of place. I'd say we haven't hit our peak yet. People have been really cool and enthusiastic."

The shuffling of students replaced the sound of hammers as Hashinger Hall reopened Sunday. After $13 million in renovations, students began moving into the hall for the first time in a year.

Diana Hall, Horton senior, lived in Hashinger before the renovations and moved back again Sunday.

“I wouldn’t live anywhere else,” she said. “This is home.”

Diana Robertson, interim director of the Department of Student Housing, said she thought the result was one both the University and the students would enjoy.

“It’s got a renewed life now,” she said. “It had been nearly 40 years old, and hopefully has another 40.”

The renovated hall now houses a larger performance theater with a raised roof and extended walls, and relocated studio and practice space. Hashinger will also have a new dining facility on its south end with outdoor patio space and Pulse, a coffee shop. Pulse will have open mic nights with poetry and live music. Both will open Aug. 21.

Robertson said that while construction would continue through the next few weeks, students shouldn’t be bothered by the commotion.

“All the big, bad stuff will be done, just final touches and details,” she said. “It should not be intrusive.”

While the hall does present several eye-catching changes, the majority of renovations occurred within its walls. Robertson cites the building’s infrastructure as the most significant change.

“We gutted everything,” she said. “Everything’s brand new.”

Each room in the hall will now have its own sink for the first time in Hashinger’s history. Hashinger will also have several single rooms throughout the building; in the past, only doubles were available to students.

With the expanded arts areas, the hall’s population will decrease from 390 to 370 students this year.

The price to live in Hashinger has increased, however, at press time, the difference in price wasn’t available.

“We’re keeping that Hash feel,” Robertson said. “Hashinger has always had a unique community and unique culture. It’s a special place.”

Kansan staff writer Matt Elder can be contacted at melder@kansan.com.

—Edited by Jodi Ann Holopirek

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