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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — In the quest to save money in the public sector amid dwindling financial support from the state government, Marshall University officials are pulling the plug on one of the oldest buildings on campus.
Laidley Hall, a three-story coed residence hall, will be decommissioned at the end of the current academic year as a part of the university's ongoing effort to identify campus space that has been underutilized, Marshall's Senior Vice President of Operations Brandi Jacobs-Jones said during the Marshall Board of Governors meeting on Oct. 28.
Laidley Hall is located on 3rd Avenue, between Harris Hall and Gullickson Hall.
By decommissioning the building, the university expects to save $45,000 each year in utilities alone by closing the building and vacating students and the programs housed there, said Ginny Painter, senior vice president for communications and marketing.
The University College and tutoring services are located on the ground floor of the building.
Officials decided to close Laidley earlier this year as a part of Marshall's 20/20 process, an ongoing method by which university committees have worked to identify ways to cut costs and generate revenue at the university since 2013.
"The decision was made to relocate the programs in the building to more central locations and mothball Laidley at the end of this academic year," Painter said.
Marshall University's most recent Master Plan suggests Laidley and Holderby Hall be demolished due to their limited renovation potential and the high cost of improving the buildings.
As of late, no discussions regarding the immediate future of Holderby Hall have taken place, but Painter said no decision has been made regarding a demolition date for Laidley Hall.
It is named for John Laidley, one of the founders of Marshall Academy.
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Information from: The Herald-Dispatch, http://www.herald-dispatch.com
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