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University officials at the groundbreaking ceremony held for the Gartley Hall renovation on May 7 (photo courtesy of UH Mānoa)

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 7 for the renovation of Gartley Hall, which will be the future home of the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work. The target completion date is August 2013.

Renovations will consist of $12.5 million in upgrades that will improve the building’s aging interior and is designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Certification, promoting a more energy-efficient campus. Specific improvements include demolition of the basement, first and second floors and roof; spall repair on exterior walls; and installation of an elevator and accessible ramp inside the building.

“The renovation of Gartley Hall is another example of ʻpolishing the Mānoa jewel,’” said Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.  “Our refreshed Gartley Hall will truly highlight our campus as a modernized instructional and office facility designed in a sustainable manner.”

Gartley Hall history

Gartley Hall exterior

Constructed in 1921, Gartley Hall is one of Mānoa’s oldest buildings in the “Old Quadrangle,” which includes Crawford, George, Hawaiʻi and Dean halls.

The building was named after Alonzo Gartley, who was a Honolulu businessman and the first chairman of the UH Board of Regents.

Gartley Hall was originally designed as a laboratory facility for chemistry, physical and sugar technology. The building was evacuated in late 2009 due to health and safety concerns caused by structural damage.

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