Nearly 90 years after it was first built, is undergoing renovations transforming the historic University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ campus landmark to update its aging infrastructure, while preserving its historical significance.
Current renovations include updating all bathrooms, the addition of lactation rooms and exterior courtyard repairs.
“It was always our priority to keep the building open,” said Eddie Robles, the director of Student Life Business Services at UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹. “Especially since it¡¯s made to be a place to support students, we didn¡¯t want to completely close Hemenway for a year or more.”
Because it was a priority for the building to remain open during construction, renovations are being completed in phases to minimize disruptions. Portable restrooms have also been installed to allow contractors to renovate all restroom facilities simultaneously, a move intended to speed up overall completion.
The renovation also includes energy-efficient upgrades with the installation of LED lights and updated water fixtures. Nearly all windows are being replaced, though several historically significant windows will be restored.
Because Hemenway Hall is part of the , funding for the renovation comes entirely from student fees allocated through the Campus Center Board.
“This is a major reinvestment by the Campus Center Board to upgrade and improve student life here on campus,” Robles said.
The history behind the hall
Named after UH Board of Regents Chair Charles Reed Hemenway, who was known for being a strong student advocate, the building was designed as the campus¡¯ student union building and intended to promote student voices and engagement.
Built in 1938, Hemenway Hall also played a role in national history. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the building was designated as an evacuation center. During World War II, it was also used by the U.S. Armed Forces Institute, highlighting its place in the wartime transformation of the campus.
Today, the hall continues to serve its original purpose as a hub of student life. It houses KTUH, the university¡¯s student-led radio station; Ka Leo, the campus newspaper; UH Productions; Â鶹´«Ã½ Review; the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ dental hygiene clinic; and the Graduate Student Organization.
“Even today, so many decades after Hemenway was opened, we try to honor its original purpose of serving students,” said Mandy Westfall-Senda, the director of the UH ²Ñ¨¡²Ô´Ç²¹ Office of Student Life and Development.
As renovations continue to update interior and exterior spaces, Hemenway Hall continues to uphold its original mission as a center for student life, amplifying student voices.
—By Grant Nakasone