Imagine a shower untarnished by grime, an attractive kitchen, or even reliable hot water. Hardened high-rise veterans might have trouble with such an exercise in fantasy.

The Superblock trio of Harnwell, Harrison, and Rodin has long been hampered by shabby interiors and dated infrastructures. But thanks to President Amy Gutmann's $106.5 million initiative, what was once wishful thinking will soon become reality.

Gutmann's program entails a multi-phase makeover of all three high-rise apartments, but by the end of the summer only floors 15 to 24 of Harnwell will have been completed.

This first phase accounts for 16.5 million dollars, or roughly 15 percent, of the overall budget. Harnwell, Harrison, and Rodin will all be fully renovated by August 2009.

"These renovations will ensure that the high-rise apartments remain competitive with future housing projects," said Marie Witt, Vice President of Business Services at Penn.

Work on Harnwell's interior began in early May, and has progressed according to plan, according to Frank Daly, Managing Director of Design and Construction.

"The bulk of the project was in the demolition, which we've finished," Daly said.

The old tiling and carpeting throughout the apartment-style dorms have been ripped up and replaced by vinyl tiles, which Daly said are far more durable.

He added that no new carpeting will be installed, noting that residents tend to prefer their own area rugs anyway.

Bathrooms will feature new tubs, sinks, and shower fixtures, while kitchen areas will have new light fixtures, sinks, cabinets, and refrigerators.

The changes are not entirely cosmetic, however. The heating, ventilating, and air conditioning ductwork has been overhauled for the first time in the building's history, allowing for more efficient operation.

And although the pipes were over 40 years old, Daly characterized the decision to replace them as "conservative," saying that HVAC pipes often have a longer shelf life.

"Because they were located on the exterior of the building, they were more exposed to the elements," Daly said.

He added that the newly installed piping is copper, which is both more resistant to corrosion and more expensive than the original steel pipes.

Further changes to the infrastructure, including significant electrical and mech-anical upgrades, are pending approval in the fall.

Given the scope of the renovations, there were some fears that they would not be completed by the end of the summer, but Daly expects no trouble meeting the August 18th deadline.

"The 15th and 16th floors are essentially complete, and the 17th and the 18th floors are almost there," he said.

Daly attributes the project's success to a large taskforce. "This was a very aggressive program, but it has remained on schedule. We've consistently had over 100 people working on the building on any given day. With a short time frame like this, a lot of manpower is essential."

The fencing that currently surrounds Harnwell will be taken down by move-in, although the trailers situated on the west side of the building are likely to stay for some time.

The renovations are sure to please the affected residents, but they are as likely to make less fortunate Superblock tenants jealous, especially those so close to the revamped apartments.

"It's disappointing," said College junior and ninth-floor Harnwell resident Quang Pham. "It's good that they're finally doing something, but I wish they could have gone down a few more floors."

Pham also remained wary of the renovations, noting that "sometimes these things don't have any real impact on the students. I'll believe it when I see it."