MARQUETTE - While it's almost always sad to see an elementary school close, Whitman Elementary is getting new life in the service of Northern Michigan University.

NMU purchased the 40,000 square-foot building from the Marquette Area Public Schools in May 2001, but the school district continued its operations there until a year ago. In January, Miron Construction and the building trades began a $5 million renovation project in the building for NMU, creating new classrooms, faculty offices, student lounge areas and a resource room for the School of Education.

Originally named after a Marquette School superintendent when it opened in 1954, the building will be renamed Whitman Hall. Along with another school, Whitman was closed due to declining enrollment.

Gerald David, who is supervising the job for Miron said the project is a "pretty straightforward renovation of office space."

"The tradespeople here are hard working and are doing a very good job," he added.

NMU will need additional classrooms and faculty offices because it expects an influx of new students between now and 2005, under a university initiative to increase its overall enrollment.

INSULATION IS installed on the Whitman School roof by Warren Hanford of Roofers 149.