Most Hamline students are unaffected by the construction that has been going on since early summer at Sorin Hall, but as a resident, the noise can be extremely disruptive to a good night’s sleep.

First-year student and Sorin resident Brandon Olson admits that instead of waking up to the sound of his alarm everyday, he wakes up to the less-than-peaceful sound of construction.

“When I was here for soccer before school actually started I had to be up at around 6:30 every morning,” Olson said. “The construction would always wake me up before I had to be up for soccer so I couldn’t sleep as long as I wanted to and I couldn’t go back to bed.”

According to Associate Dean Javier Gutierrez, the construction is allowing for several important changes in Sorin that will make it more of a multi-purpose space than ever before.

“What I can tell you is that the offices moving over are [the] bookstore, copy and mail services, safety and security, conference and event management, an honors lounge and the chapel,” Gutierrez said.  

Residential Housing Association (RHA) advisor Gaith Hijazin thinks the reallocation of these services will make it more efficient for students to get what they need in the future.

“Having safety and security and couple other offices in Sorin is a brilliant idea at it serves as an extension to the Anderson Center and will allow for a one-stop shop in which students can get most of what they need,” Hijazin said.

The only perceived drawbacks of the construction, besides the temporary annoyance of the construction noise, is that the Sorin game room will be smaller and that RHA will be displaced.

“There will be a game room that will be smaller than the one we had,” Gutierrez said. “And the Residential Housing Association lost space so they don’t have a permanent designated space anymore.”  

Hijazin explained that he’s not sure when a new space will become available for RHA, and that they are making some temporary adjustments.

“In regards to the RHA office, we are still waiting on answers on where the new office will be located,” Hijazin said. “Until then I asked the students to office from the residential life office. [It’s] not ideal, but [it] will serve the purpose until we hear otherwise.”

Despite this slight inconvenience for RHA, Hijazin states that he is still very excited about what Sorin will become post-construction.

“I have had the opportunity to meet with facilities and look over the floor plan as well. I was impressed with the amount of thought and consideration that went into making sure that the place will serve as [a] multi-use facility that can accommodate staff, faculty, students and community members.”

According to Gutierrez, the construction should be completed by January. Until then, it might be worthwhile for residents of Sorin to invest in a pair of ear plugs.