Wilber Hall will be going through a $9.6 million renovation project starting later this semester.

The demolition of Wilber Hall will start a couple weeks after spring break and will be followed by construction, which is projected to end in the summer of 2017.

Many aspects of Wilber Hall will be renovated during this project, including the removal of hazardous material. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems will also be upgraded, along with upgrades to the interior construction for the faculty offices, labs and classrooms for the School of Education, Curricular and Instruction Department and Counseling and Psychological services. The roof will be replaced, along with exterior windows and doors.

This comprehensive reconstruction will cost $9.6 million, with $8.6 million coming from the SUNY Capital Plan.

The SUNY Capital Plan states that trustees from each State University must submit a master capital plan by Nov. 15 of each year for a renovation on campus in the succeeding five years.

The remaining $1 million comes from the 2014 legislative budget addition which was sponsored by Sen. Patty Ritchie.

Mitch Fields, the associate vice president of facilities service, said that the renovations should not affect any of the students.

“The building is now empty except for the first floor, which has art as a temporary occupant,” Fields said. “They will move to Tyler Hall at the end of this semester.”

A private general contractor will be determined by public bid to work on the renovations. The first stage of the renovation is demolition and abatement, which will take place starting after spring break, lasting until mid-summer. Following demolition and abatement, reconstruction will begin and last approximately until the summer of 2017.

Wilber Hall opened in 1964 and is named after Dr. Gordon Owen Wilber, who was the full time director of the division of industrial arts in 1933. Wilber authored Industrial Arts in General Education which was a widely used textbook during that time.

Many students are excited about the renovations and hope they will be completed soon.

Freshman Nathaniel Bates is eager to see the renovations.

“I can’t wait to see how the renovations turn out,” Bates said. “I hope that the renovations actually end up benefiting the education majors.”

Wilber Hall is home to the Education department and recently went through renovations along with Park Hall starting in 2013. The $17.2 million project connected Wilber Hall and Park Hall and created a new main entrance for the School of Education. The project also created a three-story atrium with common area seating and a new lounge.

Ryan Mayer believes that other buildings should be renovated before Wilber Hall.

“There are parts of the Lanigan Hall ceiling crumbling and falling from water that has been leaking since last semester,” said Mayer, a freshman. “From what I’ve seen, Wilber is pretty up to date in regards to renovations in comparison to other academic and residence buildings.”

Bates said he thinks the renovation could either be a waste of time or a great bonus for Oswego State students in the future.

“Being a marketing major, there is little reason for me to be in Wilber Hall,” Bates said. “If Rich gets renovated and some of my classes get pushed into Wilbur, then I will be very grateful for an updated classroom.”

Emil Erlandson, a freshman is also looking forward to the renovations.

“I think that it will really benefit students that not only have classes there, but also the students that walk through there at any given time,” Erlandson said.