Alabama A&M University in Huntsville has completed renovations on two of its longtime residence halls.

University officials celebrated the completion of renovations to Morris Hall and Stephens Hall with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, reopening the residence halls after approximately one year of construction.

The nearly $21 million renovation was designed to modernize campus housing while preserving the buildings’ history.

Originally opened in 1972 and 1981, the two buildings underwent extensive renovations that university leaders said essentially rebuilt the facilities from the inside out. 

“While it is a renovation, these are actually new facilities,” said Alabama A&M University President Daniel K. Wims. “The buildings were taken almost down to their core and rebuilt with a completely different design."

Both residence halls received new flooring, wall and ceiling finishes, modern furnishings, upgraded laundry facilities and dedicated study and lounge areas on every floor.

Additional improvements include individual room climate controls, ADA-compliant elevators, upgraded Wifi infrastructure, security cameras, electronic access systems, fire alarms, energy-efficient windows, new roofs and updated doors and hardware.

Together, the two residence halls will accommodate more than 280 students. 

Wims said the university remains committed to renovating historic campus buildings rather than replacing them.

“We committed to not demolishing these buildings, but to renovate and make them current-use facilities,” Wims said. “We are keeping that promise and that commitment, and we look forward to doing that for the other residence halls as well.”