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Monmouth College rededicates renovated Grier Hall

Students can now move in to 78-year-old hall

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, IL (12/05/2018) — Monmouth College formally rededicated Grier Hall Tuesday afternoon, marking the official completion of a year-long renovation project.

Grier Hall was closed at the end of the 2017 fall semester to undergo a top-to-bottom upgrade. New amenities added to the three-story, 25,000-square-foot building include private bathrooms, new furniture and dimmable lighting.

In his remarks to an overflow crowd of nearly 100 people gathered in the hall's main lounge, Monmouth President Clarence R. Wyatt thanked donors, trustees and representatives from companies involved in the project, as well as members of the College's staff.

Before and after

One audience member was Monmouth student Terreia Walker, a junior from Chicago. The fall of her sophomore year, Walker was a resident assistant in Grier Hall. Now, she'll serve as the newly renovated hall's head resident. Having seen Grier's "before," she was asked what she thought of the "after."

"The after's pretty sweet," she replied. "I think it all turned out better than people expected. When students first heard that Grier was being renovated, I think some thought that just meant the College would be slapping on some new paint and making some other cosmetic changes. But they totally put a lot of effort into it, and they made it a lot better."

On a chilly December day, Walker didn't think of the addition of air conditioning when asked what she liked best about the many changes to Grier.

"The bathrooms are my favorite," she said. "They're so pretty. It all turned out so nice. I'm super happy."

Wyatt, however, did include air conditioning when speaking about Grier's "state-of-the-art infrastructure." He was also appreciative that the 78-year-old hall's "historic character" had not only been preserved, but enhanced.

The Monmouth magic

Wyatt said the College was not only rededicating a residence hall but "rededicating ourselves to the idea that it represents ... the setting in which the magic of the Monmouth College experience takes place."

"Grier, like all the rest of our facilities, has seen achievements celebrated and setbacks endured," he said. "Ideas created, articulated and put into action. Friendship and love forged, tested and forged again even stronger. Within these walls is written the essential story of Monmouth College - the story of empowering young people to free the possibilities inherent in their lives, and to put that power in service to others."

That thought was echoed by student speaker Magdalynne Bruckner of Aurora, Ill., president of the Associated Students of Monmouth College, when she relayed a Winston Churchill quotation: "We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us."

"The students are excited for the new renovations," she said, before thanking the donors and trustees for "wholeheartedly investing in Monmouth's students."

The Rev. Dr. Teri Ott, Monmouth's chaplain, offered an invocation at the ceremony.

"May this residence hall be a symbol of how we care for each student ... welcoming them into our home."

Up to 90 students will return to the renovated residence hall, with several of them, including Walker, moving in before this semester's final exams begin Friday.

Offering thanks

The project, which was the first phase of a thorough renovation of the oldest residence halls on the campus's east side, was paid for by funds donated to the College's capital improvement fund.

"Many, many people have worked to renew the Monmouth magic in Grier Hall," said Wyatt.

That includes the St. Louis architectural firm Hastings + Chivetta, which was responsible for the renovation's design, and Pepper Construction of Chicago, which carried out those plans.

Among others, Wyatt also thanked the College's banking partners, Midwest Bank of Monmouth and Morton Community Bank; Vice President for Finance and Business Richard Marshall; Director of Facilities Sarah Young; and his wife, Lobie Stone, who worked with closely with the architects on key design elements.

Built in 1940 and named after James Harper Grier, the College's fifth president, Grier Hall was the third residence hall to open on campus. The Georgian-style brick structure was designed by noted New York City architect Arthur O. Angilly.

Media Attachments

Flanked by President Clarence R. Wyatt (left), Monmouth students Jeren Stewart, Terreia Walker and Madalynne Bruckner prepare to cut the ceremonial ribbon marking the completion of the renovation of Grier Hall.

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