Groundbreaking ceremony held for Gartley Hall renovation

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Gregg Takayama, (808) 956-9836
Director of Community and Government Affairs, Chancellor's Office
Posted: May 7, 2012

Photo courtesy of UH Manoa
Photo courtesy of UH Manoa

UH Mānoa held a groundbreaking ceremony this morning for the renovation of Gartley Hall, which will be the future home of the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work.  The building will be renovated to meet the program’s standards to provide educational excellence that advances social work with its focus on social justice.

Constructed in 1921, Gartley Hall is one of UH Mānoa’s oldest buildings in the “Old Quadrangle,” which includes Crawford, George, Hawai‘i and Dean halls. The building itself is named after Alonzo Gartley, who was a Honolulu businessman and the first chairman of the UH Board of Regents. 

Gartley Hall was originally designed as a laboratory facility for chemistry, physical and sugar technology.  The building was evacuated in late 2009 due to health and safety concerns caused by structural damage.

Renovations will consist of $12.5 million in upgrades that will improve the building’s aging interior and is designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certification, promoting a more energy-efficient campus. Specific improvements include demolition of the basement, first and second floors and roof; spall repair on exterior walls; and installation of an elevator and accessible ramp inside the building.

“The renovation of Gartley Hall is another example of ‘polishing the Mānoa jewel,’” said Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.  “Our refreshed Gartley Hall will truly highlight our campus as a modernized instructional and office facility designed in a sustainable manner.”

Target completion date is August 2013.
 
(Photo caption)  From left are Kahu Kordell Kekoa; Sally Kanehe and Dr. Claire Hughes, Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work supporters; Art Ushijima, CEO of The Queen’s Health Systems; Brian Bowers, president of Bowers and Kubota Consulting; Laura Thompson, widow of Myron B. Thompson; Haunani Apoliona, OHA trustee; Dean Noreen Mokuau; Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and Bill Hinshaw; Associate Vice Chancellor Vassilis Syrmos; Sam Ho, vice president of Nan Inc.; and Louis Fung, president of Fung Associates.  Photo courtesy of UH Mānoa.