The Cushing renovations, intended to make the lower level more user-friendly through re-allocating space and moving some walls, will not take place in December over the Christmas recess. The project is on hold pending a campus-wide assessment of available office space -- an assessment that will not move past "preliminary stages" until the second semester begins.

Joseph Hall will free up faculty offices primarily in Bradley House and Gadbois Hall, Bill Furlong, assistant vice president for facilities and auxiliary services, told The Crier.

The vacated offices of faculty who move to Joseph Hall can be used for faculty members whose offices are in other campus buildings, said Furlong, who oversees physical plant and other departments. Planning will include the broader impact of this shift upon Alumni Hall, Bradley House, Cushing Student Center, Davison Hall, and Gadbios Hall.

"We want to make sure that the use of these newly vacated spaces makes strategic sense for the college," Furlong said. "It's a big jigsaw puzzle."

Plans for renovations to lower Cushing have been discussed for several years, and were recently proposed by the Dean of Students office to he Planning and Budget Committee.

The proposed plans call for only internal changes to the Cushing floor plan, allocating space to different offices and making all offices more accessible. No changes to the overall building are expected.

Any internal work to Cushing would have a considerable impact on the staff and operations of student affairs offices in the building, points out Matt Goodwin, director of student activities and leadership programs.

The Student Government Association office in lower Cushing is currently under minor renovation. SGA President Scott Campbell and some fellow officers began a painting project in the back office and closet space when they encountered mold and insect infestation behind a wall. Furlong tells the Crier that Physical Plant is investigating the source of the water penetration.

Furlong says he wants the campus-wide space allocation project to be done properly so that it does not have to be revisited frequently in future years.

"It is going to affect different areas of campus," Furlong said.

Joseph Hall is currently the controlling variable in all equations about facilities work.

"We have this new space -- its been here for 80 years, but we have not had access to it," Furlong said. "Its purpose has completely changed."

The former convent, now named for Bishop Joseph J. Gerry, O.S.B., has been completely gutted and is expected to be prepared for faculty occupancy for the second semester. Following the $2.5 million project's completion, Furlong says Physical Plant will be busy helping faculty move their belongings into the new offices.

This article was published on December 15, 2008 on page 1 of the Saint Anselm Crier.