Blakeley Hall Welcomes Sophomores After Extensive Renovations
GREENVILLE, NC – Blakeley Hall reopened this fall following complete renovations, offering a modernized living experience and a renewed sense of community for east Carolina University sophomores. The updated residence hall features new amenities including dedicated study rooms, air conditioning, and an elevator, addressing previous student concerns and aiming to enhance campus life.
The reopening of Blakeley Hall provides much-needed housing options for the growing sophomore class, offering a dedicated space designed to foster academic success and social connection. ECU invested in the renovations to improve the overall student experience, responding to feedback from previous residents and anticipating the needs of future classes. The updates position Blakeley as a desirable on-campus housing choice, potentially impacting demand for other sophomore-level residences.
Sophomore Haydn Reilly Hogan, a resident of a Blakeley double, highlighted the elevator as a significant improvement, notably during move-in due to an ACL injury.”The elevator was a lifesaver,” Hogan said. “It was super helpful to get all our stuff up to our rooms during move-in.”
Beyond accessibility, residents are enjoying new study spaces and climate control.”Last year [my dorm] only had the common room and I think a lot of dorms are like that. They just have one general space where people can go,” Hogan explained. “The study rooms are so nice and they’re quiet.”
While generally pleased with the renovated hall, some minor issues have been reported. Hogan noted occasional flooding in the single-use bathrooms and difficulty operating the kitchen’s new stove, which requires a smartphone app.
Despite these challenges, residents praise Blakeley’s strong community atmosphere. “there’s a lot of people in Blakeley who are super chill and really nice, and you can just say hi to anyone when they’re in the hall,” Hogan said. She recommends the dorm to incoming sophomores.
Another student expressed a slight reservation about the hall’s location. “This is a little bit controversial. … I don’t like [Blakeley’s location] as much as we’re in a corner of the campus,” she stated.
ECU officials anticipate the renovated Blakeley Hall will serve as a model for future residence hall improvements,continuing to prioritize student comfort and well-being.
