New school year debuts newly renovated Martin Hall

With the start of the new school year Monday also came the debut of a newly renovated Martin Hall, which had been closed for the past year as the Baylor residence hall received some serious upgrades. Among them: updated rooms with new furniture, lighting and fixtures; additional space for studying and socializing; a new apartment for the hall’s Faculty-in-Residence; and a drastically improved lobby, now featuring a two-story atrium, a community kitchen, and games (ping pong, shuffleboard and a vintage video game console).

The $12-million renovation was part of a long-term master plan that began in 2013 to refurbish traditional residence halls across campus; Penland, North and South Russell have undergone similar updates, with Alexander, Allen-Dawson, Collins and Memorial to follow. (Watch a tour of the new-look Martin below, and see a different look inside Martin from #Move2BU here.)

Built in 1954, Martin Hall is now home to 260 male students (mostly freshmen), plus the hall director, a resident chaplain, and the hall’s first Faculty-in-Residence, Dr. Clay Butler, BA ’88. Butler, a senior lecturer in the English department, is joined by his wife, Susan, BA ’89; the couple has four children, including two current Baylor students. As Faculty-in-Residence, Butler will live full-time on the hall, interacting regularly with the students who call it home. The idea of a faculty-in-residence position is to foster relationships that help shape a strong social, educational, cultural and spiritual environment within the residential community, a position Martin Hall will benefit from now and in the future.

Sic ’em, Martin Hall!

You might also like:
* Photos from Welcome Week 2017
* Adventure Awaits: Three new Baylor families share their unique stories (Aug. 2017)
* Who was Martin Hall named for? (Aug. 2016)