The Hill to have break from renovations during 2016-2017 academic year

UCLA Housing will not renovate any residential buildings during the 2016-2017 academic year, after nearly a decade of annual renovations on the Hill.

All the construction and renovation projects on the Hill have been completed over the past seven to eight years, said UCLA spokesperson Rebecca Kendall in an email statement. She added no buildings are scheduled for any major work, but Sproul Hall is scheduled to be repainted and recarpeted over the summer in time for fall 2016.

Delta Terrace and Hedrick dining hall will reopen in fall 2016 after being closed for renovations during the 2015-2016 year, Kendall said. Delta Terrace’s communication and fire systems were updated, and water fountains were installed.

All recent renovations were a part of the UCLA Student Housing Master Plan for 2011-2021, the long-term strategy to improve on-campus housing resources. Its goal is to guarantee undergraduate students four years of on-campus housing to and guarantee two years of housing for transfer students.

The University of California Board of Regents approved a budget plan last November to increase undergraduate enrollment across the UC by 10,000 students over the next three years. On average, each campus will see an increase of more than 500 students.

UCLA Housing has not released plans for the Hill to accommodate the increase in enrollment, Kendall said.

The Hill will also serve as the Olympic Village if Los Angeles is awarded the bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games. UCLA will need to offer 17,000 beds to accommodate all the athletes.

Robert Gibson, director of budget and financial planning for UCLA Housing and Hospitality Services, said in an email statement UCLA Housing also considers construction and renovation expenses, among other factors like occupancy rates, in determining its long-term plans.

Gibson said student housing fees could increase by as much as 2 percent for on-campus housing and 3 percent for off-campus university apartments, even though there are no planned renovations. Historically, housing fee rates have increased about 3 percent annually.

Courtney Ng, a second-year world arts and cultures student, said she did not know renovation expenses factor into student housing fees. She added she thinks fees should reflect the lack of major renovations.

“If there are no renovations, (fees) should be reduced,” said Ng, a Courtside resident.

Iris Feldman, a first-year dance student, said she would like UCLA Housing to be transparent about how the student fees are allocated.

“It’s unfair to give no explanation,” said Feldman, a Rieber Vista resident. “I want to understand where the (housing) fees are going.”