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The removal of Hunt Hall is part of the university’s larger goals. Post-demolition site improvements called out in the 2012 Campus Master Plan will include accessibility upgrades and improvements, vehicular access across campus from east to west, landscaping appropriate to the historic center of campus and new parking. Hunt Hall now stands empty and derelict at the front door to campus. EOU has recently experienced multiple break-ins and vandalism to the building. The building is a deterrent to prospective students and reflects poorly on the mission and goals of EOU.
Hunt Hall is composed of four wings, constructed over time from the 1930’s to the 1960’s. The oldest portion, “A” wing has been vacant since the 1970’s because of safety concerns, egress problems and the expense of building systems repairs. In 2014, the remaining portions of Hunt Hall were vacated for similar reasons.
Despite its significance as the original Women’s Dorm, decades of deferred maintenance have created an irreparable state for the majority of the building. The facility has major code compliance issues, structural problems, defunct mechanical systems, and deteriorating exterior systems. EOU has performed multiple studies over two decades, each study determining that it is not cost effective to repair Hunt Hall. Typically, renovation is determined to be cost prohibitive when the cost to renovate approaches 70% of the cost of replacement. Renovation costs for Hunt Hall are currently estimated to exceed 100% of replacement cost.
Hunt Hall creates a poor first impression of campus. Its neighbor, Inlow Hall, is the first building prospective students visit when considering EOU. Hunt Hall detracts from that experience and creates a potentially negative impact on student attraction and retention. Removing Hunt Hall will make EOU a more attractive campus overall and will create a more comfortable and supportive environment for student success.
For more information on Hunt Hall demolition and North Campus Restoration Project, contact Luke Aldrich at 541-962-3395 or laldrich@eou.edu.