After months of construction, Royer residence hall was finally able to show off its long-awaited makeover.
Last Tuesday, the conclusion of the renovation period was celebrated as Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider cut the ribbon in the opening ceremony. Residents of Royer and other Etown students were invited to celebrate the new renovations along with faculty, staff and administrators. Refreshments were provided.
Royer Hall became a residence destination for Etown students when it originally opened in 1962. Boasting 68 rooms on three floors, the dorm was typically home to almost 130 students. However, time is not always kind to buildings, and Royer eventually began to show wear and tear.
It quickly became evident that Royer would need a facelift. The decision was made to commission improvements for the building, especially to provide greater accessibility. Starting in January, the Benchmark Construction Company worked tirelessly to ensure that the majority of the renovations would be completed by the start of the fall semester.
Residents of the dorm, including first-year student Megan Fleming, consider Royer their home away from home. She pointed out the fact that some features, such as the new wheelchair lift in the lobby, will prove to make the building “accessible for everyone at any time.” The lift, according to Fleming, is evidence that Etown is committed to providing a college experience to everyone by making these efforts to build a more accessible campus.
It is impossible to walk through Royer’s front doors without admiring the modern look. The lobby boasts brand-new furniture, making it a natural place in which students can study or relax. Nearby is the communal kitchen with brand-new cabinets and appliances. Fleming listed the kitchen as her favorite because it “looks nice and will be useful to have nearby.” Even more importantly, individual rooms and bathrooms were remodeled, giving residents a fresh, comfortable living space.
Students living at Etown during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic may even be shocked at Royer’s transformation, as the hall was then used to quarantine students infected with the virus. Today, Royer is not only a more friendly environment to live in, but it is also a community in which students can support positive change. The first floor is home to the Social Change Living Learning Community. This establishment encourages students to promote social justice and challenges them to build leadership skills.
The Benchmark Construction Company was a perfect fit for the renovation job. They have particular experience in building and renovating large living spaces. Recent Benchmark jobs have included the renovation of an apartment complex in North Cornwall, Pennsylvania and the construction of the Meadow View memory support facility at the Garden View Community in New Holland.
Benchmark had some challenges to face in their renovation of Royer. First was the time frame–they only had five months in order to be ready for students in the fall. In addition, they had to perform some significant structural changes in support of accessibility. However, Benchmark certainly met these challenges and delivered a beautiful new facelift to Royer. The opening ceremony captured the excitement of this arrival as well as that of Etown’s growth.
There was no better time to start these renovations. The class of 2027–the largest since 2009–will need the extra space. Enrollment is up over 13% from last year, representing the fourth consecutive year of growth. Etown is hopeful that it will continue to be an even more popular choice among new college students. These students will need comfortable places to live and study, and Royer will certainly fit the bill.
