By Sydney Matthews | Assistant News Editor
Collins Residence Hall has reopened its doors to 466 women after a 14-month renovation that started in May 2022.
Construction project manager Nichole Bekken said via email that the overall cost of the remodel was $38.5 million. The much-awaited renovations include state-of-the-art amenities and a complete communal bathroom redesign — all while keeping the original character of a building that has been loved by generations of women.
“Anytime we do a renovation, almost everything is touched,” Curtis Odle, associate director for facilities and operations, said. “When it is a community bath-style building, we try to keep it the same style. One of the big changes with Collins is that instead of it just being a row of showers and a row of toilets, we went to a ‘pod-style’ community bath. So when you walk into the bathroom, there are five to seven pods to choose from.”
Odle said the new pod-style bathrooms are enclosed rooms equipped with a shower, toilet and sink for privacy.
“What students really want is privacy,” Tiffany Lowe, director of Campus Living and Learning, said. “We still kept some sinks on the wall with mirrors and outlets if students still wanted to do that, but this way, it is really like having semi-private bathrooms. That is exciting because it allows students to have what they are looking for and have much more flexibility for what they need.”
Odle said the classic room style for Collins is staying the same, but every room has had top-to-bottom renovations. New flooring, lighting, air conditioning, locks, paint and furniture are included.
“The entire building will be exclusively LED lighting, which will help from a maintenance standpoint, as well as preventing lights from burning out and less power being used,” Odle said. “Those are really good improvements as well.”
Lowe said her favorite part of the Collins renovation has been showing the community leaders around for the first time. Many of them are past residents of Collins who share memories in the building.
“The students are the goal in mind, and to see their reactions is so exciting,” Lowe said. “I can’t wait for move-in day when I get to see all the parents that lived here and all the students who are super excited to see it. There is so much satisfaction in that, because that’s who this is for.”
Lowe said when she speaks about the renovation, she thinks of the legacy of Collins and the women who lived there prior. She said the facility creates a community that is irreplaceable.
“People, relationships and programs is really what happens in the hall,” Lowe said. “So I think what we’ve done here is continued the legacy of Collins but brought it into 2023, where people want to live there even if they don’t have that previous experience. The facility reflects the community.”
This is only the beginning for residence hall renovations across campus. Baylor spokesperson Lori Fogleman said via email that a renovation of Memorial and Alexander Halls is currently underway, and renovations of Allen, Dawson and Kokernot will follow.
