First Pieces of $170 Million Kent State Renovation Approved

The $170 million renovation of 's main campus starts with improving access for the disabled and repairing some basic infrastructure components.

The Kent State University Board of Trustees approved spending $9.1 million Wednesday to do some basic roof and facade repair to four buildings while spending another $1 million to improve access across the entire Kent campus.

The specific deferred maintenance repairs, or "asset preservation projects" as described by the university, are:

• $800,000 for replacing the roof of Cartwright Hall, including masonry repairs and replacing the failing roof over the auditorium.
• $2 million for replacing the roof of the Kent State University Library.
• $2.8 million for replacing the roof of McGilvrey Hall, including new roof flashing and masonry repair to mortar joints.
• $3.5 million for replacing the failing roof on Taylor Hall, including replacing failing windows and masonry and concrete envelope repairs

The $1 million for accessibility upgrades largely deals with bringing certain aspects of campus buildings, many of which were built in the 1960s, up to code with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The access improvements will range from signage for the vision impaired to improved restroom facilities and wheelchair access across campus.

Kent State University President Lester Lefton said these projects are just the first phase of the plan, which will be .

The second phase of projects, which will include larger-scale improvements such as entirely new buildings for select colleges and schools, will be brought to the trustee board in September, Lefton said.