Cami De Castro secured one of the final rooms in Erickson’s recently renovated wing.
“My roommate and I couldn’t believe we got into the new wing and on the first floor,” De Castro said with a smile.
Over 300 students moved into the sophomore residence hall this fall, with a little over 100 sophomores finding their new home in the updated C-wing.
“We were very fortunate,” De Castro said.
The refurbished wing features all-new cabinetry and woodwork, updated HVAC systems and pod-style bathrooms.
Kirk Anderson, chief financial officer, said nearly everything in the C-wing rooms is “brand new,” except the furniture.
“I think the windows in the room are a big one,” he said. “All the woodwork that’s in the room has also been changed, so all the cabinetry will be new and the floors.”
C-wing rooms also have a new location for their updated HVAC systems. Previously located in front of the windows, the systems are now installed in the ceiling, he said.
“The reason we picked this wing this year is because it’s closest to what we call the chiller,” Anderson said. “Which is basically just the air conditioner outside.”
Sophomore Jordyn Swanson lives on the second floor of C-wing and moved into Erickson mid-August. Swanson said she was grateful for the central airing during the month’s heat waves.
Now, C-wing students can adjust the temperature of their room.
“We have a box, right against the wall by the door, and I can put it exactly on 68 degrees,” she said.
Swanson said with the unit in the ceiling, it frees up the floor, leaving her room feeling “more spacious.”
De Castro echoed similar sentiments and said she also enjoyed the extra storage space in the wardrobes. She said her room’s updated wardrobe is similar to the ones found in the Westerlin rooms.
C-wing’s latest renovation represents phase one in the project, Anderson said, which is similar to Westerlin’s recent renovations in both style and timeline.
Anderson said when modernizing the First-Year residence hall, the college didn’t close any wings during the academic year, working on Westerlin only in the summer.
This is the plan moving forward with Erickson, he said.
Due to the rising class sizes, Anderson said the college is unable to close any wings throughout the academic year. Construction will occur over the next two summers, with hopes to have the entire building fully renovated by the 2026-2027 school year.
Bush Construction has been working alongside the college and was also the contractor for Westerlin’s renovations.
“It’s the same process we used with Westerlin,” he said. “So it’s not like we’re trying to recreate the wheel with this. We’ve done it before.”
Outside of the room renovations, Anderson said he suspects students might enjoy the new bathrooms the most.
Now pod-style, each unit has a shower, sink and a toilet inside, offering more privacy than the previous communal bathrooms.
Chris Beyer, director of residential life, said with the new bathroom design, the college was given the flexibility to make all three floors of C-wing all gender.
“In recent years, there’s been more of a push for gender-neutral bathroom spaces, and this was one way we could essentially incorporate universal design where this bathroom could work for anyone.”
De Castro said she particularly enjoys the privacy the new bathrooms offer.
“I like to listen to music when I get ready, and it was kind of awkward to do it in a communal space,” she said. “So the individual pods are very nice for privacy overall.”
Swanson agreed and said she enjoys having everything all in one place.
“You can wash your face, brush your teeth and also shower without even leaving the same area you started in,” she said.
