One of NIU’s aging residence halls will be receiving a facelift next summer.

The Board of Higher Education has given the nod for the renovation of two Lincoln Residence Hall wings to be completed by fall 1993.

Student Housing Services Director Carl Jardine said the renovation will turn the wings into “suite-type arrangements.

“We distributed written surveys to the residents last spring to get their input regarding the renovation,” he said.

Suites will consist of three rooms – a living area and two sleeping areas.

“We have not decided which two wings to do, but that is all part of the process,” Jardine said. The type of furniture also has not been determined, he added.

Any vacancies in Lincoln Hall this fall will be turned into demo-rooms displaying different types of furniture under consideration, he said.

Because Lincoln Hall was built in the 1960s, Jardine said now is the appropriate time to make significant changes.

Business and Operations Vice President James Harder said the project money will come from revenue bond funds, which support the residence hall system.

The initial estimated cost for the project was $600,000 to $700,000, but plans are not far enough along to come up with any definite figures, he said.

Patricia Hewitt, associate vice president of business and operations, said the final price will be determined by room options students choose before they move in and the number of floors renovated.

However, Jardine said the project’s cost will be kept at a minimum to keep the cost of residential rooms at the same level next year.