THE closure of Hope and Lazenby Halls is disappointing.
Both have a long and exciting history, and have been halls of residence for decades. Fondly recognised as among the most oldest, most beautiful halls on campus, Hope and Lazenby are frequently referred to as the most sought-after halls on campus – it truly is a shame that, from July 2013, only staff will use them.
It’s reassuring to see that the University do at least recognise the value of Hope and Lazenby as heritage buildings with a great deal of history and sentimental value, but there seems to be some confusion over the nature of the buildings’ intended purpose – many of our sources claim that Hope and Lazenby will replace space lost from the renovation of the Queens and Amory buildings, but the University are undergoing ‘feasibility studies’ to determine the use of the space.
Hope and Lazenby have been closed because of a slight decline in the demand for catered accommodation – this, together with a vast increase in the provision of University accommodation, suggests that the University are unsure of how to use the sudden provision of empty rooms productively.
Some students may feel angry that the University seem to be prioritising on-campus buildings for use by staff, rather than students. What is most important, however, is that the space is used in the best way possible – it truly would be a shame if these buildings stayed empty throughout all of next year if feasibility studies fail to materialise.
As featured in Exeposé
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