Classrooms, Administrative and Faculty Offices Relocated

GREENVILLE, IL--While undertaking remodeling of the lower east end of Hogue Hall this summer, Greenville College became aware of significant structural weaknesses in the historic campus centerpiece housing administrative and academic offices and classrooms. Numerous cracks had developed in the main timbers that support the internal masonry walls in the easternmost "wing" on all three floors above. In matters such as this, it's impossible to know how long this situation has existed and it may have been this way for many years.  

Contractors immediately reinforced the timbers and halted further remodeling efforts, as the college arranged for both a structural engineer and an architectural firm specializing in restoration of old buildings to investigate.  Their initial inspection indicated serious concerns not only about this east end, but also about the structural integrity of the entire building, now 150 years old.

Hogue Hall Evacuation
The college quickly moved the east and west end offices, including the English Department, Finance Office and four classrooms, just prior to the start of the school year to other locations on campus pending additional study of the building’s core.

Despite a follow-up report by the original structural engineer stating that he now believes the temporary reinforcement measures have “stabilized” the ends of the building, the college’s property insurance carrier indicated that the discovery of structural defects nullified portions of the college’s policy for collapse or related general liability on the building. This information led the administration to a second relocation of those still operating offices in the core of Hogue Hall. These moves, which affected numerous academic departments, the Business Office, the Records Office, the President’s Office and Information Technology, will be completed by the end of November.

Hogue Hall Renovation
President Mannoia convened a task force, composed of campus leaders and members of the college’s board of trustees, to meet with architects and engineers in mid-October to discuss stabilization of the building. Basic demolition has begun on both the west and east ends of the building’s interior. As the building is evacuated, exploratory demolition will continue throughout the building in an attempt to provide a better understanding of the complexity of the project at hand. 

Restoration architects have developed various options for the Hogue Hall renovation. One option involves stabilization of the ends of the building and the addition of two added stairwells and an elevator. Another option involves the stabilization of the ends and core of the building, without the addition of the added stairwells and elevator. Should state (or other) funding become available, the college will step up to a more comprehensive renovation plan, which entails a complete remodeling of the entire building. Greenville College currently awaits word from the Illinois’s House of Representatives regarding their vote on a capital bill that, per the governor, includes $5 million for renovations on this historic building.

Hogue Hall Relocations
By November 29, all offices and departments will be relocated to temporary dwellings across campus and off. Classes were quickly moved out of Marston Hall and the Ruby E. Dare Library, as two rooms in Marston were remodeled as the new location of the Records and Business Offices. Extensive space has been renovated in the lower level of the library to house 26 faculty and staff members from various departments. 

The current list of office relocations is as follows:

• Almira House – President’s Office
• Burkhardt Center – Finance Office (Vice President, Controller, Payroll and Accounts Payable)
• Globe Theater, Third Floor – Information Technology (Vice President for Planning and Technology and Help Desk)

• Ruby E. Dare Library, First Floor
  • Academic Affairs (Vice President)
  • Dean of the School of Professional Studies
  • History/Political Science
  • Management
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Philosophy/Religion
  • Psychology 

• Marston Hall/LaDue Education Center
  • Marston Hall, First Floor (101/102) – Records and Business Offices
  • Marston Hall, Third Floor – Tower Room materials/Psychology adjunct; Education Resource Room
  • LaDue Center, First and Fourth Floors – EDU faculty and Dean of the School of Education
  • Marston Hall, Fourth Floor – Academic Affairs Conference Room

• Snyder Hall – Sociology/Social Work
• Tidball Alumni House – English and Spanish Faculty; Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences

CONTACT
Robyn Florian
Director of College Relations and Marketing
Greenville College
(618) 664-6504
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Links:
Major Repairs Needed For GC's Historic Hogue Hall (Greenville Advocate)
Total of 70 Employees Displaced (Greenville Advocate)
Campus Directory (UPDATED December 2007)