NCHU Officially Opens Newly Renovated Ren-Zhai Residence Hall : Housewarming Party with Sweet Dumplings

NCHU Officially Opens Newly Renovated Ren-Zhai Residence Hall : Housewarming Party with Sweet Dumplings

        After undergoing a full year of renovation planning, the Ren-Zhai Male Students Residence Hall is now comparable to a five star hotel, with upgraded new facilities, transforming cement-liked beds into individually cupboard storages. Chung Hsing University threw a housewarming party to celebrate the grand opening of the residence hall on September 13, 2016. More than two thousand resident students were invited and as a customary practice in Taiwan, sweet dumplings were served for the special occasion. 

        Ren-Zhai received more than five hundred applications when it released 369 bed spaces to the senior students. Ren-Zhai is conveniently located in the bustling Taichung district and next to the school campus. The accommodation rent is NT$8,800 per semester, average cost per month is NT$1956, and comparing this to the NT$3,000 rental rates in the neighborhood, this is definitely a good bargain. 

        There are five men residence halls in Chung Hsing University, including Ren-Zhai、Yi-Zhai、Xin-Zhai、Li-Zhai、Zhi-Zhai, which were built from 1976 to 1980. These 40 year old buildings were criticized as being unfit for modern day accommodation. Each of the rooms could accommodate 4 persons and the basic design was a two level concrete bedframe and one big study table.

        Hence, when Shieu Fuh-Sheng, President of NCHU took office officially in August, 2015, he immediately promoted and started the renovation project for the men residence halls. Ren-Zhai was chosen to be the pilot project. It took a year of planning and remodeling during the summer. Not only were there abolishment of old interiors, public areas were also renovated. The two level concrete bedframes and study tables were all replaced with modern design cabinet bed and a walk-in rain shower to separate dry and wet areas. The toilets are all access-free facilities and the building materials and interior designs are comparable to five star hotels. 

        The office of student affairs(OSA) said that they received plenty of positive feedbacks on the renovation project from the students and suggested that the school continues to renovate other buildings as well, in order to promote living condition standards for the residence halls.