The upcoming renovations to DuBois College House mark yet another step in Penn's college house makeover.
In the past 10 years, about $325 million have been devoted to improving on-campus residences.
Throughout the renovations, all college houses have received new security, sprinklers and fire alarms and laundry-facility upgrades, among other things, according to Business Services Executive Director Douglas Berger.
However, the amounts spent on each house vary greatly.
While renovations to the three high rises have consumed $188 million - averaging about $62.3 million per house - only $5.3 million have been spent on Stouffer College House and the Mayer annex.
"Although some college houses have clearly undergone more changes than others, students should understand that they are not comparing apples to apples when they compare college houses," said Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger.
Berger added, "Our top priorities when deciding where to make improvements are safety, the number of students who will benefit, the length and cost of the project and whether or not the building is a historic structure."
Many students agree with these priorities.
"I definitely would not complain if my building was renovated," Gregory College House resident and Engineering freshman James Hagerty said. "But I do understand that the elevators in the high rises need to be fixed and are a greater priority."
"My roommate had to wrench open the doors to an elevator in the lobby of Harrison College House this morning," Wharton and Engineering sophomore Vyas Ramanan said. "Because we live on the 17th floor, taking the stairs just is not an option."
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