Newly renovated Snyder and Phillips halls and the new student apartment complex, University Village Apartments, plan to open their doors to students in August.

The projected cost of the Snyder-Phillips project is $37.5 million and University Village Apartments is estimated to cost $16 million.

Renovations in dorm rooms for Snyder and Phillips halls include higher ceilings, new lighting, new fire suppression features and fire alarms.

All rooms also will receive new furniture.

There will be about 620 beds in the halls, and the third floor will be reserved for single rooms.

"Snyder-Phillips is also completely ADA compliant, which means it has to be accessible for people with disabilities," Residence Halls Association President Lindsay Palinsky said. "It's keeping MSU first in its class."

The facilities for the planned residential college in the halls are projected to be completed in January 2008, but students can move in before then.

"The food service building has been demolished," said Sam Ruegsegger, project manager with Lansing-based The Christman Co., which is overseeing the halls' renovation.

"Contractors are building a new residence college, which houses eight classrooms and administrative spaces."

There also will be a complete original food service and a Barista Café, private dining rooms and a multipurpose room with a terrace, Ruegsegger said.

"It's a step in the right direction," said Palinsky.

"Snyder-Phillips will be housing arts and humanities students in a living, learning environment like James Madison College in Case Hall and Lyman Briggs School in Holmes Hall."

The University Village Apartments project at Harrison Road and Kalamazoo Street started last spring and includes demolishing 42 housing facilities.

The project took place over the summer and turned the apartments into eight new buildings, which will be able to house 304 undergraduate students.

Plans for the new apartments bring a more home-like feel by using wooden framework, vinyl siding and shingled roofs, said Jeff Adcock, project manager for the University Village Apartments project.

"Students change their minds daily," University Housing Director Angela Brown said.

"Today we think the model we are working with for the apartments is a good workable model."

Future students, however, in 10-15 years may have a different opinion on how they want their apartments to look, Brown said.