The scaffolding is up in anticipation of next week's start of the third stage of the College's four-year refurbishment programme of the older main building.
Even though all Members will have departed after the 2017 examination period ends on 12 November, the College will continue to be a very busy place when building contractor Stevenson & Williams embarks on the refurbishment of 44 rooms on floors RB and RC in the Ross Wing of the main building.
The two floors will be entirely gutted and the rooms built from scratch, including the floor. A new fire safety system will be installed and modern electrical and data cabling laid. The sash windows will be retrofitted with double glazing and all rooms will be well insulated.
LED lighting will be installed throughout including the corridors which will also receive new wallpaper. New modular bedroom furniture has been made to fit for each bedroom and is being stored in warehouses across Dunedin awaiting installation. New carpet will be laid in each bedroom too.
The first stage of the refurbishment programme began in the summer of 2015/16 when the old coal boiler in the basement was decommissioned and replaced by a medium temperature hot water system. Stage two occurred during the 2016/17 summer and involved refurbishing 19 rooms on the first floor. Once the upcoming refurbishment (Stage three) is complete, the fourth and final stage (41 bedrooms) can occur, which is planned for the summer of 2018/19.
Members lucky enough to be placed in one of the new bedrooms in 2018 will enjoy very comfortable rooms indeed (see accompanying photos taken upon completion of Stage two in February 2017)!
(Story by the Master, Dr Charles Tustin)
