Munsell and Ferguson Residence Halls to Receive Major Renovations

Jan. 9, 2023

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — With generous support from alumni donors, the Illinois Wesleyan University Board of Trustees has approved major renovations to Munsell and Ferguson Halls.

The on-campus housing for first-year students will receive these updates through support from the Ames family – the late B. Charles "Chuck" Ames '50 and Joyce "Jay" Eichhorn Ames '49 and their children, Dick Ames, Cindy Huffman and Paula Redman.

Renovations to Munsell are targeted for summer 2023, with completion before the start of classes in fall of 2023, with Ferguson renovations to be completed in summer 2024. The combined building capacity is 344 residents. 

“Through this exciting renovation project, Munsell and Ferguson continue to serve Illinois Wesleyan’s newest students and are formative in the first impressions of our university. The spirit of this project will be to elevate the student life experience for those who reside

in Munsell and Ferguson, and encourage a vibrancy of communal living — foundational to those enduring Titan connections that define Illinois Wesleyan,” said Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Karla Carney-Hall. 

The planned renovations include modernization of the first floor lobbies, reconfiguration of the connecting bridges on floors 2-7, remodeling to single-user bathrooms and a refresh to general finishes throughout hallways and resident rooms.

Several building infrastructure changes will improve the quality of life for residents that include new windows, HVAC upgrades in Ferguson, as well as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and technology improvements throughout. The project site design will also include repair of existing concrete walks and stairs.

The Board of Trustees has authorized up to $16.5 million for this project.

By Julia Perez