Miami Student

Issue date: 8/28/07 Section: Campus

President David Hodge shows off his newly renovated home during an open house Saturday.

With wall-to-wall windows overlooking a newly laid patio, light pours into the recently renovated home of Miami University's president, David Hodge, and his wife Valerie.

Lewis Place, originally built in 1839, serves as a residence for the president of Miami, as well as a place for hosting meetings and events.

The home recently underwent extensive renovations, exceeding an original budget of $675,000-by an additional $1 million.

Faculty and students of Miami were invited to attend an open house at the Lewis Place Saturday, Aug. 25 and Sunday, Aug. 26. Approximately 250 people were in attendance.

"When you get into renovating an older home, especially one from the 1800s, you will run into some things," said Carole Johnson, spokesperson for Miami.

Plans to renovate Lewis Place began shortly after former Miami President James Garland announced his retirement, and prior to Hodge being recognized as a candidate for the position.

As renovations began, it became apparent that more changes than originally planned would be needed in order to keep the building up to current safety and public code.

"We found things, like wood rot, where we had to replace entire floor structures where it was obviously unsafe, and you don't know that until you actually get into it (the renovations)," Johnson said.

According to Johnson, there were no foundation footers under a section of the kitchen and extensive termite damage and wood rot existed in the floor joists throughout the house.

In addition to floor repairs, new heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units were installed along with electrical and plumbing improvements, life safety systems and improvements
to accessibility.

The board of trustees approved an original budget, but updated it as changes were needed.

"A significant number of unknown and hidden defects in the structure added unexpected costs to the renovation project," said Jay Henderson, chairman of the finance and audit committee of the board of trustees, via e-mail. "The explanations provided to the board by the staff were understandable and accepted."

According to Henderson, the additional renovations did not come as much of a shock to the board because Lewis Place is a historical home.

Continued...

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