Work has been completed on two of the 30 classrooms that are part of a $1.6 million classroom renovation project begun in January.

The renovations of the rooms on the first floor of Harvill make them more modern, said John Adams, assistant director at Facilities Management.

The Harvill, Shantz, Forbes, and Physics and Atmospheric Sciences buildings are also part of the Facilities Management renovation plan.

Money for the renovations came from state-allocated money in the Building Renewal Fund, said Charles Ingram, associate budget officer for the UA.

The renovations include upgrading the rooms' ventilation systems and installing energy-efficient lighting. There will also be new seats and desks that are not bolted to the floor.

All the rooms, Adams said, will be hard-wired with an Ethernet connection for computers. It will be up to the university to get the system running over a central network, he said.

An elevator will be installed in the west side of the Physics and Atmospheric Sciences building, and braille signs will be on the doors, making the classrooms more accessible to the disabled.

UA Risk Management is working closely with Facilities Management to make sure safety standards are met, said Herb Wagner, UA fire safety officer.

After renovations are completed, each classroom will have a fire alarm with a horn and strobe lights, and will be equipped with timed door locks for security, he said.

The work is being done by UA Facilities Management in conjunction with private contractors, and is scheduled to be completed by August 18, the first day of the fall semester.

Work on the ceilings, floors and furniture will be done by private contractors. All other work is being done by Facilities Management craftshops, Adams said.

Richard Otero, a facilities management electrician, said workers have been conscientious about the amount of noise made during class time.

Work will be done on three rooms at a time. Classrooms were reserved to ensure that no classes would be cancelled during the renovation process, Adams said.