Michigan State’s Brody Complex prepares for major renovations

In preparation for major renovations which will reshape its landscape, the Brody Complex at Michigan State University has begun making adjustments to its facilities.

The first phase of the renovation will begin in the first floor Brody Hall, where many of the things students are used to seeing will no longer be there.

“We’re still adjusting to the changes, emptying out the first floor of Brody was the prime responsibility because that’s where the work is going to begin,” Brody Housing Manager Tim Knight said.

Sparty’s convenience store, the first floor classrooms and the University Housing office are among the usual mainstays that have been moved. Classes won’t be held in Brody Hall until 2011.

The University Housing Office for instance, has moved to the first floor guest area of Butterfield Hall. The Residence Hall Association movie office is now in the Rather Hall music room.

Brody Complex is one of MSU’s oldest dormitory areas and was built between 1954 and 1956. Knight says construction for the entire complex will be done around 2017.

After the renovations to the first floor of Brody Hall, the cafeteria will also be worked on and remodeled to resemble the university’s newer eateries like the Gallery at Snyder-Philips Hall.

Though Brody Complex boasts a large cafeteria with several food options, political science senior Chris Fort says it leaves a little bit to be desired.

“They do something that’s like Snyder, with different choices for food, but they don’t have the facilities that Snyder has so sometimes the food is cold,” he said.

Knight says that even with all the changes, students seem to be adjusting well to the slight transformations of the complex, although he says that some still walk around Brody Hall expecting to see things in their familiar spots.

“We’ve got some students aware of where we were, and then they told others, but we still find students wandering around the first floor of Brody going, ‘where is everything?’”