DeKALB | For all NIU residence halls, there are many renovations that are either in progress or planned.

Lobby bathrooms in Douglas and Lincoln halls will be handicapped-accessible once construction is done.

Those wondering what the source of a smell wafting through campus is need only look up – the roof of Neptune West is currently being replaced to avoid future water leaks.

Those living in Grant Tower South will have something cool to look forward to next fall – all rooms will receive new mircrofridges.

The lobbies in Neptune East and West have already received new furniture as part of the buildings’ renovations.

“We are trying to create a more living-room atmosphere,” said Michael Stang, the director of Residential Facilities and Operations of Housing and Dining. He also said he was very pleased to see that students have started to use the new furniture.

Housing and Dining has other renovations planned for residence halls that are either still in progress and will be done in the summer or as soon as possible.

They plan on renovating Grant bathrooms and some of Stevenson Towers’ bathrooms by way of redoing walls and floors, and trying different products to see which ones work better than others.

“We will be tackling the worst ones first,” Stang said in regard to the order in which Stevenson bathrooms will be renovated.

Plans for Douglas Hall renovations include painting and carpeting the dining room and some of the classroom space on the first level. Housing and Dining also hopes to replace the furniture in the Red Room, a multipurpose room located in Douglas.

They also intend to change the fire panel, a collection mechanism that tells where the alarm is going off, in Neptune North, Lincoln, and Douglas halls.

Housing and Dining hopes to put security cameras in Lincoln and Douglas halls after witnessing the benefits over the last two or three years since installation in Grant. Stang felt that the security cameras have functioned as a deterrent because students are more aware of a security presence. He also said the security cameras have helped in acquiring information about incidents needing investigation.

“There are many needs in the residence halls. We are trying to spread our resources so work is being done in all of the buildings,” Stang said. “This is really about student-centered service, and providing students with a comfortable living environment. We try to do that as best we can.”