Students coming to college today have very different expectations for their housing than their predecessors. Most of today’s students never have shared a bedroom. Many of them haven’t shared a bathroom either.
Student-Centered Improvements
As part of a broad, long-term effort to provide more attractive campus housing for students, Baldwin-Wallace renovated Ernsthausen Hall. The project included new furniture, new heating and air conditioning, new flooring and windows, redesigned entryways, and additional bathrooms. The improvements to the facilities increased space per student and reduced the number of students using each bathroom. It also resulted in the addition of more lounge and study space. Ernsthausen Hall is the first dorm in Ohio utilizing environmentally-friendly GeoExchange technology for heating and cooling.
Greater Sense of Community
In addition to the physical improvements to the building, College officials hope to nurture an even greater sense of community among the residents. Ernsthausen previously had four separate entrances. The plan called for main entries in the middle of the building, which also feature large, two-story student gathering areas and provide access to a central courtyard. The previous porch/entrances were enclosed to become sunrooms and study rooms.
Added Green Space Another Plus
Installing the wells necessary for the GeoExchange heating and cooling gave the College the opportunity to turn a parking lot into green space, as called for in the more comprehensive Campus Master Plan. Adjacent to both Kamm Hall and Ernsthausen, removing the Kamm parking lot exchanged a view of blacktop for one of greenery and flowers.
The project was done in four phases over several years at an overall cost of about $5.8 million.
275 Eastland Rd.