Jesse Hall is about to resume operation.
Employees will begin moving back into the iconic administrative building at the center of the MU campus on May 18 and continue throughout summer, officials say.
Jesse Hall, along with Pickard and Swallow halls, closed about one year ago as part of the Renew Mizzou project. Since Jesse's closure, a sprinkler system has been installed, and upgrades to its smoke alarm and heating and cooling systems have been completed.
A second larger elevator was installed to comply with a code within the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Project cost was $8.5 million, which was available from maintenance funds allocated to Jesse.
Hundreds of Mizzou employees will return to Jesse Hall, home of the Office of the Chancellor, Undergraduate Admissions, the Office of the University Registrar, the Office of Student Financial Aid, the Office of Research, Accounting Services, Business Services, the MU Budget Office and other units. No schedule has been set for the re-opening of particular offices and departments.
Other than the new elevator, Jesse Hall’s interior will look pretty much the same. Most of the changes are out of view. “It’s all behind the walls,” Jeff Brown, senior director of Campus Facilities, said during a tour of the building April 17.
A discerning eye will see new sprinklers (1,400) high on walls and smoke detectors (404) in office ceilings.
The major difference is the mechanics room on the fourth floor, location of the massive machinery behind the heating, cooling and sprinkler systems.
Upgrades to heating and cooling will make Jesse Hall more energy-efficient, said Karlan Seville, communications manager of Campus Facilities, as will automatic lighting adjustments when offices are unoccupied.