Walker Hall’s renovations are complete and students can now use the once blocked off building.

Since Walker caught fire in the summer of 2012, the building’s functions were scattered to different parts of campus, causing confusion for students and professors.

The MRC and the Write Place were moved to the library as well as many classes and offices.

The MRC and Write Place have been moved back to Walker Hall on the third floor with more space and computers available to students.

Walker was not entirely renovated, the second and third floors remain the same as they were before the building caught fire.

Jason Roubique, Director of Facilities, said the intensity of the fire was on the first floor and is why it was the only floor to be redone.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t really get funds to renovate and update Walker,” Roubique said.

Roubique said the school was only given funds from property insurance to repair it back to the condition it was in before.

“This project was just to restore the fire damage and to make some improvements,” Roubique said.

Improvements such as an automatic fire-sprinkler system and a new fire alarm system were added to the building.

Roubique said before the building caught fire, Walker was 45 years old and had bad building codes. These new safety features are now up to date and match building code.

New smoke compartments were also installed, since the fire caused excessive smoke damage throughout the building.

Only one room on the second floor was completely redone due to damage caused by the fire on the first floor.

Updates included new state-of-the-art equipment, part of a new digital suite, which includes a green screen room, a recording studio, smart boards, and projectors.

The building will also welcome back many professors and departments that were originally in the building.

Sabrina McClain, assistant to the assistant dean, said moving back to Walker Hall has been very interesting. She is excited about how much Walker Hall is going to benefit the campus.

“I’m looking forward to us all being in one location,” McClain said.

McClain said the fire in Walker Hall caused a lot of division on campus, forcing departments to be scattered around campus. Those departments that left will return this semester.

Passion Leach, sophomore biology major, was pleased to know the MRC and the Write Place were put back in Walker Hall. She was pleased to see how nice the renovations were.

“It’s a nice palace for everyone to go to. You can concentrate better in a palace, can’t you?” Leach said.

Leach thinks the building will make life easier for students and professors.

Although Walker is complete, students and faculty will now wait for Sandel Hall’s construction to finish.

The building, much like Walker Hall, will bring together many departments scattered around campus.

The Bookstore, Recruitment and Admissions, Registrar, Financial Aid and the Scholarship office will call Sandel Hall home.

It is expected to re-open in the fall of 2016.

Roubique encourages students to stay out of construction areas and not to enter behind the fences.