The sheet rock that donned the inside of Ernie Davis Hall disappeared and the glass walls became visible. The bare beams in the lobby now have orange and blue posters wrapped around them with Ernie Davis in his classic pose, bent down on one knee holding a football.

Recently completed classrooms and a timeline of Davis’ life and career greet residents as they enter Ernie Davis Hall. The new decorations and most recent developments in the dormitory were revealed in the three days leading up to the dormitory’s dedication Friday morning.

Construction has been under way on Syracuse University’s newest dorm, the first in more than 40 years, since February 2008. The construction on the rest of the building is still in progress.

‘Everything’s going well now,’ said Eric Beattie, director of the Office of Campus Planning, Design and Construction. ‘Obviously, we have students moved in. We are focusing on the remaining spaces in the building. The dining center is the big one, that’s the whole main level of the building. We have two levels, the bottom and mezzanine level of the nine-story building, left to finish.’

Beattie said construction progress is on time and on budget. His team is finishing in a ‘logical’ sequence: the classrooms were used during the dedication but still need some final touches. Beattie said they will be ready to be used for the spring 2010 semester, but has not confirmed with academics if classes will be scheduled for the same semester.

The 10,000-square-foot fitness center and convenience store will be completed next, then the dining hall. Beattie said he hopes the fitness center and convenience store will be finished before the end of the semester so students can take advantage of them during finals. The dining hall is still set to open next semester.

Residents now see the glass walls surrounding the fitness center and there is new railing in the lobby. A picture of what the gym will look like is on the wall, showing residents what is expected to be in the room. The facility will contain a dance studio, treadmills, elliptical cross trainers, stationary bicycles, rowers, weight machines and free weights.

‘I’d like them to hurry with the fitness center,’ said Tom Conklin, a freshman biology and chemistry major who lives in Ernie Davis. ‘There are a lot of dining halls within walking distance, and Archbold (Gymnasium) is outdated.’

Beattie said the construction interferes minimally with students’ day-to-day lives and that there have been no extreme complaints about the noise. Conklin said around 8 a.m. he can hear them ‘start reaming on the poles,’ but the noise hasn’t interfered with his studying.

‘As a freshman it’s really cool to live here,’ Conklin said. ‘I feel honored. I can’t wait to see the finished product.’

[email protected]

Published on October 4, 2009 at 12:00 pm