This summer Lawson and Douglas halls had fire suppression sprinkler systems installed throughout the whole buildings.

A state mandate passed in 2004 requires dormitories at all public and private colleges and universities to have sprinkler systems installed by 2013.

Eastern has seven buildings left that need updated sprinkler systems.

The university plans on having all systems updated by the summer of 2012, said Mark Hudson, director of Housing and Dining Services.

Hudson said the next hall on the agenda is Stevenson Hall scheduled to be done in the summer of 2009. Lincoln and Taylor Halls will follow in the summer of 2010, Thomas Hall in the summer of 2011 and Ford, McKinney and Weller Halls in the summer of 2012.

Fire sprinkler systems have been installed in Greek Court, Carman Hall, University Court, Andrews Hall, Lawson Hall and Douglas Hall.

Douglas was added to the renovation list this summer since construction was already ongoing in the bathrooms and kitchenettes.

“The ceilings had to be opened up anyway so we used that opportunity to maximize what we got done there without adding additional costs later on to go back and reopen ceilings,” said Dan Nadler, vice president for student affairs.

Even before the mandate, the university had started on their own updating the sprinkler systems in some of the resident halls.

The process started with Pemberton Hall in 1999 and continued with the other wooden structures.

Before the legislation was passed, Pemberton and Greek Court were completed and construction was heading next to University Court.

“We were well ahead of the curve in getting the campus sprinkled,” Hudson said.

When the university is finished with all the fire suppression systems, the project would be an investment of at least $12 million, Nadler said.

This past summer, he said about $6 million was invested into the resident halls.

The state law requiring the sprinkler systems is an unfunded mandate though, Nadler said.

“The law was made that resident halls have to have fire suppression sprinkler systems, but there’s no money that came along with that, which is pretty common unfortunately,” Nadler said. “Rarely does any money come with mandates.”

In order to fund the sprinkler project and other capital projects, a percent of the room and board rate is set aside.

“Everything we have to spend is money we have from people who live with us or eat with us,” Hudson said.

Students who live on campus pay about $7,000 and a portion of those dollars are set aside for projects.

“What is unique about our situation is that some other schools in the state have done capital projects – of sprinklers and other types of renovations – by selling revenue bonds, which basically means they take out a second mortgage out on their buildings and they end up paying off those for years,” Hudson said.

Eastern has instead dedicated portions of the room and board rate for capital projects.

Three percent of the room and board rate is generated for money for projects, like the sprinkler project.

“Basically, when we’re doing these projects, we cash flow them instead of borrowing the money,” Hudson said.

He said all the interest Eastern saves by not selling revenue bonds allows the university to put more money into its projects.

Construction is done over the summer to accommodate for the summer shutdown period, said Steve Shrake, associate director of design and construction for Facilities Planning and Management.

“We want to get as much completed as possible without extending the work beyond the start of school,” he said.

The construction involved in the resident halls depends on the particular building, Shrake said.

Some of the buildings require a new water line from the municipal water system.

“The taller buildings usually require a fire pump to increase pressure to the upper floors,” Shrake said. “Ceilings may need to be removed and reinstalled.”

Fire alarm systems are also upgraded at the same time.

Emily Zulz can be reached at 581-7942 or at eazulz@eiu.edu.