BRITNEY MALONEY
Staff Writer
Returning Pepperdine students may notice that some changes have taken place over the summer in two particular campus buildings. During the summer, the Thornton Administrative Center as well as the Sandbar were remodeled.
Despite the efforts put forth by the school and project managers to complete the tedious restoration, several students have professed displeasure with the work.
“I think Pepperdine has remodeled too much,” Junior Andrew Richdale said. “It looks nice, but they could use the money in better ways.”
Each project took place over the summer work around students, according to Project Manager Rod Leard.
“We had workers in here at night so we didn’t have to disturb anyone,” Leard said. Though some students may believe that the university spends too much time, energy and funds on renovations, Leard said that the construction was completely necessary.
“The wallpaper in Thornton’s corridors was dated, and once you damage wallpaper, it can never be repaired,” Leard said.
After about a month of work in the TAC, the building is now refurbished with new carpeting, almost all new furniture in the lobby and a smooth finish on the walls. According to Leard, the wall’s finish is easier to maintain, and he hopes that it will remain indefinitely.
Though the construction in the TAC was substantial, Pepperdine students were most affected by the work in the Sandbar. The cyber cafe, which boasts a big screen TV, dance floor, mailboxes and juice bar, was closed for about 30 days to remodel the floor.
“The old floor was remodeled a few years ago and they put paint over concrete,” Leard explained. “It began to get damaged and couldn’t be repaired. Somebody put a huge scratch in the floor and it was proving to be really, really difficult.”
This time around, Leard and his crew put a perrazzo body finish on the floor, which is a 3/8 inches thick finish found in airports.
“This way it will be here for a long time,” Leard said.
Though the Sandbar’s closure was an inconvenience to Pepperdine students, they were able to get their mail from a nearby conference room.
Regardless of varying opinions on the renovations, students, faculty and visitors alike will find up-to-date facilities at their disposal that will, according to Leard, last for decades.
08-29-2005