Located off Neubig Road on the campus, the Fitzgerald Hall opened its doors with 167 rooms for students after undergoing $5.6 million renovation. The project marks the first major overhaul for this four-story brick residential facility since it was built 46 years ago.
Fitzgerald Hall was originally built with its entrance facing the Cortland Waterworks. The architects for the renovation project, King & King Architects and Argus Engineers, were asked to make the back of the building look like the front with an entrance addition.
Fitzgerald’s new entryway features a green roof planted with turf to reduce the facility’s carbon footprint. The upgraded facility is the first low-rise residence hall to receive campus heating system improvements that feature the latest in efficient building systems and controls to reduce both energy usage as well as the carbon footprint.
As with the two other student residences renovated since 2005, Fitzgerald meets LEED Silver building standards from USGBC. The building contains LEED standard features for energy efficiency, site enhancements and innovative program initiatives, along with numerous sustainable construction and design elements. The reconstruction project used wood from sustainable forests, low volatile organic chemical (VOC) products and recycled construction debris.
The completed project features a service elevator upgraded to be more student-friendly and restrooms on the second and third floor that are accessible to residents and guests with disabilities. More rooms are now accessible to visitors in compliance with federal regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The renovations included: new bathrooms with extra showers; a laundry lounge with state-of-the-art washers; a new accessible elevator; and digital connections to Internet and cable in each room as well as wireless lounges. Rooms include closets that feature organizers and furniture to maximize storage. Changes to the common areas, including a new entrance to the street and hospitality-like amenities, provide a more inviting feel to the renovated building.
