The MSU Board of Trustees voted Dec. 7 to proceed on a $10.3 million utilities upgrade — nearly a $3 million increase from the $7.5 million estimate that planners initially said improvements would cost.

“What happens in these early estimates is you have to make assumptions,” Nestle said. “It just got more complicated.”

As a result of the construction, the entire West Circle Housing Complex will be closed during the summer. Mary Mayo Hall will be closed for 18 months beginning in May.

Enhancements will be made to the steam, electrical and water utilities of West Circle.

“The Mary Mayo changes will require increased water capacity and other updates,” Nestle said.

Nestle said the utility upgrade to West Circle is phase one of a three-phase project. The subsequent phases are scheduled for the summer of 2009 and 2010 and will cost about the same as phase one.

“Later phases would include other residence halls (besides Mary Mayo Hall),” Nestle said.

Sharri Margraves, MSU construction and maintenance manager, said the renovations to Mary Mayo Hall and the utility upgrades to the complex complement each other.

“Electrical upgrades (for West Circle) will be needed to increase the electrical capacity in (Mary Mayo Hall),” Margraves said.

Ryan McKinney, facilities manager for West Circle, said his maintenance staff will move its offices from Mary Mayo Hall to Campbell Hall during the renovations.

“We’re focusing on a couple halls that are normally used in conferences,” he said. “We can do more of a detailed job on those.”