A dedication ceremony was held on Thursday, August 9 for the newly renovated . The two-tower residence hall on the campus underwent a $12 million upgrade that finished on time and on budget.
¡°It¡¯s really going to be an opportunity for students to be transformed,¡± said UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Chancellor Tom Apple. ¡°To find their passion here.¡±
Apple, Governor Neil Abercrombie and dozens of UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ students, faculty, staff and supporters were on hand for the dedication and blessing, and the tours that followed. They got to see the upgrades firsthand including a redesigned lobby and front desk, completely remodeled rooms and new public areas such as study lounges on each floor and kitchens in each tower.
¡°It will support living, learning communities, where the students are,¡± said Apple. ¡°They study but they also cooperate and collaborate.¡±
Many of the 218 students who will call Gateway home during the fall semester are happy to be the first to experience the newly renovated housing complex.
¡°I am excited that it is brand new and getting to see a sneak peek of the building is actually really cool,¡± said UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ student Katelyn Asato.
¡°I am very excited,¡± agreed fellow student Darrick Dickerson. ¡°I feel like it¡¯s going to be a wonderful new opportunity for a lot of students to be indulged and have some new resources.¡±
Governor Abercrombie used the opportunity to stress UH¡¯s importance to the state and his commitment to the university.
¡°The University of Hawai?i has played a central role in the lives and fortunes of literally hundreds of thousands of people over the years, before statehood and most certainly after,¡± said the governor during the ceremony. ¡°I want you to know that there is an individual who bleeds green and is totally committed to the advancement of this university.¡±
With the completion of Gateway, 60 percent of the nearly 4,000 students that live on campus will be residing in brand new or recently renovated buildings.