Morrison Hall will be undergoing some renovations this summer as a part of a state-funded project to improve the building. Proposed improvements for the building were first revealed at the USNH Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 24, 2025.
Previously, during the Campus Master Plan Open Sessions in March 2024, Morrison Hall was listed as one of the buildings that “needed attention.” The renovations are planned to begin this summer and be completed in the summer of 2027.
Colin Burdick, acting director of facilities services, discussed what is specifically going to be improved during the renovations.
“We’re mostly addressing some deferred maintenance,” Burdick said. “As highlighted in our master plan, we’re going to revamp the HVAC systems, so new heating and add cooling. Replacing some worn stair treads and flooring [and] revamping the bathrooms to make them ADA compliant.”
Burdick added that the renovations would include new doors and possibly new windows as well.
“We’ll stretch the budget as much as we can,” Burdick said. “The state gave us $5 million. So it’s a state-funded project, which is why we have a 2027 completion timeline.”
Burdick explained why Morrison Hall was chosen specifically for improvements instead of other academic buildings.
“With only $5 million, with construction, that doesn’t get you very far,” Burdick said. “We had to really focus on buildings that had been carrying some of that deferred maintenance throughout the years and Morrison was called out on our master plan as a potential renovation building. So we’re following the roadmap that our consultants have laid out for us.”
Burdick said planned renovations to the Redfern Arts Center and Keddy House include replacing the roofs and windows. The renovations will also be a part of the state-funded project and are expected to occur around the same time.
“Right now we’re working on our five-year capital plan to highlight some of these things that we can ask the state for, for some additional money and get the USNH Board approval for some projects,” Burdick said. “We got a lot of things we would like to do, but it’s a matter of what we’re going to be funded for.”
Burdick emphasized the positive effect that the renovations are expected to have on the older academic building.
“Morrison is long overdue for a bit of a face-lift here,” Burdick said. “We’re going to give some love to Morrison and hopefully provide a new lease on life for one of our more heavily used academic buildings.”
Senior Lewis Hicks said that he is excited by the proposed changes.
“I think it’s awesome,” Hicks said. “I think it’s a great idea. Morrison is still a good building. It has strong bones.”
Meriem Pagès, professor of English who teaches some of her classes in Morrison Hall, seconded Hicks’ statement.
“Those changes are much, much needed,” Pages said. “Morrison is not the worst on campus, but certainly not great. It’s a bit of a challenge.”
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