The college's board of trustees authorized an air conditioning upgrade every other year. With a first-ever budget approval for air conditioning in an existing dormitory, Holly Mussatti, director of physical plant, challenged her staff to fast track an installation to be up and running in time for the 2004-05 academic year
She said she chose Hill Hall because it was in need of total rehabilitation. Only the newest dorm on campus (2003) had been built with air conditioning, and this would be the first retrofit to be installed in-house by her staff.
Mussatti said she researched current HVAC systems to accommodate this historic building. Contractor Steve Hayden of Mountain Air Systems, South Burlington, recommended that she look into a ductless two-pipe system.