A fter Stevenson Towers was completely renovated in 1999, NIU officials started thinking about the next big residence hall project: Grant Towers.

The Stevenson project, which took two-and-a-half years to complete and cost $28 million, was only the first part of NIU’s master plan that set the path for residence hall renovations.

NIU officials would like to start working on Grant as soon as possible, but the $20 to $22 million price tag holds them back.

“I do think it’s going to happen sometime in the next four years; it has to,” said Michael Coakley, executive director of Student Housing and Dining Services.

In order for NIU to financially support the renovation, the state of Illinois needs to improve higher education funding. If NIU received more state money to put toward other expenses, it could fund the Grant project over time. In that case, NIU would pay the full cost, plus interest, in a mortgage-like fashion over a set number of years, Coakley said.

The project also would need approval from NIU’s Board of Trustees.

When Grant renovations take place, a variety of areas will be modified. The most-needed improvements include the heating, cooling and plumbing systems.

“All the buildings are aging,” Coakley said. “They all have infrastructure issues … [Grant] is a high-density, small-space facility that was built in the ’60s.”

Grant’s capacity would drop from 2,000 – the largest population of any residence hall on campus – to 1,600 students. This would involve, for example, transforming three double rooms into two new double rooms. There will be no suites or suites with bathrooms.

After renovations, Grant’s rooms would be slightly larger, reproportioned and would feature moveable furniture. The goal is to make the space in each room more flexible, Coakley said.

“We want to make people more interested in living here,” he said. “We’re [also] going to reconfigure some of the goofy angles and triangle shapes.”

Freshman marketing major Joseph Winckowski lives in Grant A-Tower.

“It’s pretty nice, it’s just a little small – a little packed in,” he said. “They could probably redo all the walls and ceilings; there’s cracks and holes.”

Junior geology major Jose Mendoza lived in Grant for three years before moving to Neptune Hall West last fall.

“I just wanted something more central on campus, so it was easier to get to my classes,” he said. “I didn’t think Grant was all that bad.”

According to the plan, each of Grant’s four towers would be renovated during four consecutive summers, so it would take four years to complete.

“I think Student Housing and Dining Services and the institution is committed to move forward this whole process,” Coakley said. “It’s just impacted by the financial health of the state. We’ve got a plan in place, it’s just when we can kick it to the next level.”

After Grant is renovated, which would be at least five years from now, Lincoln and Douglas halls would be jointly renovated, Coakley said. The Neptune complex is the fourth and final planned renovation project for NIU’s residence halls.