The University continues final preparations for the Sunday, January 4 return to campus of Brandon Hall residents displaced by October's fire.

With exams complete, all students have now moved out of the interim hotel accommodation. Prior to moving, students received specific instructions about packing belongings and other move-back procedures.

Packing materials were provided to students who were instructed to pack any belongings not needed over the holidays in labeled boxes. The University has moved those boxes back to campus where they are waiting in residence rooms for the students' return beginning January 4.

Since the October 18 fire, McMaster's team of staff, engineers and fire restoration specialists and technicians has worked to prepare the building for re-occupancy.

The three elevators in the building received the most severe damage and one elevator will be operational when the building re-opens on January 4.

In each residence room, new mattresses and blinds have been installed and carpets have been replaced or cleaned. Walls and ceilings in rooms and hallways have been painted or sanitized. All furnishings, telephones and fixtures, including refrigerators that were left behind, have also been cleaned.

Over the past few weeks all of the building's smoke detectors have been replaced. Heat sensors have been inspected and replaced where necessary and all exit signs have been either cleaned, repaired or replaced. Audible testing of alarms on each floor of the building has been completed, and a complete fire safety and security audit is also being conducted. Thorough fire and safety refresher training including mandatory community meetings are scheduled for early January.

Brandon students received an e-card with move-in details from Residence Admissions on December 23.

Please note the University is closed beginning December 24 and will reopen January 5. We look forward to welcoming students back to Brandon Hall. Housing and Conference Services staff will be available to answer questions at 905-525-9140, ext. 27222 after 7 a.m. on January 4.