Kings Court English gets $10M makeover

Kings Court English College House residents now have a $10 million reason to spend more time in their dorm rooms.

New bathrooms, hallways, furniture and floors were installed in the college house this summer. The roof, stairs and lighting were updated and student rooms were repainted and outfitted with new window coverings.

Of the $10 million spent on the building, 25 percent went to bathroom renovations, 30 percent to student rooms and 45 percent to general infrastructure. In addition, air conditioning was installed in the game room and Blue Lounge to improve public spaces within the building.

These renovations are part of a continuous effort to improve the college house system, Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger said. Over the past 12 years, the University has invested $350 million to enhance residential life on campus. “It’s an ongoing investment in our campus housing,” Lea-Kruger said.

Kings Court was constructed in 1915 as a luxury apartment complex. It was transformed into a dormitory for Penn students after World War II. The English building was added in 1960 to form Kings Court English House.

College and Wharton freshman Rachel Libfraind, who lives in Kings Court English, was impressed by the college house when she first arrived. Everything was “really clean and nice,” she said. “I noticed the bathrooms were a lot cleaner than last year when I visited my friend here.”

On the other hand, College freshman Yuma Tada, who had not seen the building prior to renovation, was not surprised by the quality of the new facilities. “It’s what I thought it would be like,” he said.

While Kings Court English mainly houses freshmen, House Coordinator Ipatia Bonifacio said renovations “can be an incentive that will make students want to stay” beyond their first year. She added, though, that the tight-knit community and “family atmosphere” is what encourages upperclassmen to continue living in the college house.

Engineering sophomore Daniel Ge lived in Kings Court English last year and chose to remain there this year as part of the Science and Technology Wing residential program. “The only reason why I chose this place again is the community,” he said, though he believes the new air conditioning, nicer furniture in student rooms and upgraded bathrooms have definitely improved student life.

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