Thurston Hall began undergoing renovation Friday, marking day one of a project slated to wrap up by fall 2022.

Kevin Days, the director of community relations, said the company Clark Construction began shutting down sidewalks and vehicle lanes surrounding the hall in an email sent to the GW community last week. Days said the F Street sidewalk and parking lanes located by the front of the building are blocked off during construction.

He said Clark Construction will close the building’s 19th Street parking lane from 7 a.m to 3:30 p.m., and any vehicles parked during that time will be ticketed.

Days added that lanes on the building’s 19th Street side will close Wednesday as Clark Construction uses a crane to transport equipment from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. at Mitchell Hall. Sidewalks will close from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. while the crane is being used, and “flag staff” will direct detours, he said.

University President Thomas LeBlanc said at a Faculty Senate meeting in March that renovations would proceed as scheduled despite the onset of COVID-19, saying officials have already borrowed funds necessary to start the $80 million project. The University suspended most other capital projects to maintain funds during the pandemic.

The Board of Trustees approved the renovations last May, followed by additional approval from the D.C. Zoning Commission later last year.

Guthridge, West and Mitchell Halls will exclusively house first-year students this fall to accommodate for the ongoing renovation. Once completed, Thurston will house 825 students in singles and doubles and include a new “three-season atrium” with community space and student lounges.