UF’s College of Music will get a new roof this year.
The roof is currently being designed and will cost $1.2 million, said UF spokeswoman Janine Sikes. After the roof is replaced, UF hopes to fix the building’s air conditioning and the heating, venting and cooling system.
The building’s open roof allows weather to damage instruments and the building. Sikes said UF is listening to students’ concerns.
“There were some concerns about safety, and we’ve absolutely addressed those,” she said.
Last semester, UF added hand railings to the staircases for the safety of students and faculty, she said. The music building is No. 18 on the list for state funding priority, and there’s no current date set as to when UF can completely renovate the building.
“If we have to wait on state funds, it can take many years,” Sikes said.
Unless a donor comes up with a donation to the school, the process will take time, she said.
For the last four years, Rachelle Strang has called the music building home.
The 21-year-old UF music history senior has class there almost every day, but she said she barely noticed the handrails were added. Throughout her time at UF, she said she hasn’t seen the building’s poor condition change.
Strang said she’s never been concerned for her safety, but the architecture of the building isn’t ideal for the instruments. She said she worries about instruments being in a space exposed to the elements.
Strang said she was glad the roof is being replaced.
“If they can actually do some renovations, it’d be nice for future students,” she said. “I mean, my time’s up, but I like this building. It was home for four years, but I just wish it could be more improved.”
Sikes said UF will continue to advocate for the state funding to renovate the buildings.
Contact Melissa Gomez at mgomez@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @MelissaGomez004.
Pictured are the handrails installed in the College of Music building last semester to address safety concerns of students and faculty. The handrails are part of an ongoing effort to improve the building, which will receive a $1.2 million roof renovation sometime this year.
