Then and Now: Sanford Hall’s Transformation

1948 Originally built in 1936 as a 100-room men’s dormitory, Sanford Hall is one of Georgia Southern’s oldest residence halls. Although the exterior remains unchanged (except for the age of the cars parked out front) to preserve its historic integrity along Sweetheart Circle, a steel frame recently transformed the structure’s outdated wooden support. Campus architect Haroun Homayun said the job was challenging because old beams couldn’t be demolished all at once for fear the building would collapse. Homayun also noted that the interior of Sanford Hall now reflects “a very basic and honest attitude toward a place of learning.”

2014 Sanford Hall has been transformed into a state-of-the-art University facility, complete with writing labs, classrooms, offices, lecture halls, and suites for film production and editing. In addition, the building contains brand new audio booths, as well as studios for both student-run radio and television stations. The newly renovated building is now the permanent home of the Department of Communication Arts, which includes multimedia communication, journalism, public relations, communication studies and theatre. For years, the Department’s programs had been separated into six buildings across campus. Completed in May, faculty have already moved into the new building, while students will be able to begin using the space beginning this fall. – Sandra Bennett