Brandeis has secured a $25 million tax-exempt bond from MassDevelopment, a state-regulated organization designed to help provide low-interest financing for projects around Massachusetts. Their purpose is to upgrade fire prevention systems in dorms, overhaul utilities and improve classrooms and roadways.The planned upgrades are part of the master plan, which outlines several ideas for future growth at Brandeis.Brandeis Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Peter French said that plans to secure the bond and efforts to work with contractors have been in the works since late October.In order for a municipality or non-profit organization such as Brandeis to access the bond market, they must go through a government agency.French said the Board of Trustees ultimately approved the 30-year bond."These renewal projects will not only enhance the individual learning experience via classroom and facility renovations, but they will make the entire campus environment a safer place to learn and grow," French said.Deputy Chief Richard Cardillo of the Waltham Fire Department said that the fire safety codes in a building depend on when it was built or renovated. He said if a building was erected in 1965, it is only expected to meet the fire code from that year. Over the past five years, the administration has worked to install fire alarms and smoke detectors in every dorm, in some cases going beyond the fire code requirements. Sprinkler systems are part of the next phase of renovation.According to French, addressing issues of fire safety is a top priority. The budget will tentatively allot $5.7 million for the installation of sprinklers and fire safety systems in every campus dormitory.Because work on the sprinklers can only be performed in the summer, the target date for completion is in the summer of 2005.But in order to add sprinkler systems, it is necessary to overhaul the water distribution system on campus, which will also be paid for by the bond.The bond will also fund a number of other projects. According to French, the entire electrical system on campus is in need of repair. The steam pipes, which pump heat to the entire campus, are also in line for major reconstruction.The process of undertaking many of these operations requires digging up parts of the peripheral road. According to Associate Vice President for Planning, Design and Construction Dan Feldman, a portion of the bond will go to putting the road back in a condition much better than it is at present."Since we were going to have to rip up the roadways for the steam and water pipes anyway, we decided to upgrade them by adding curbs and sidewalks when they are rebuilt," Feldman said. Feldman also said that some money would go to improving the signage on campus, especially those signs at the front gate, which have not been improved for many years.As of now, $2.5 million of the bond is expected to go for upgrading all 133 classrooms aesthetically and with technology. While those classrooms that already have high definition projectors and multimedia devices may only receive a new paint job or retiling, classrooms that lack these amenities are set for a major overhaul.Part of this process includes making sure enough left-handed desks are present in each classroom. "We met with President Reinharz and he said he forwarded our concerns to the appropriate people," said Left-Handers Association Co-Chair Adam Gartner '07. "We are hoping that with the new construction, lecture halls like Golding 110 will be renovated to accommodate more left-handed students"Though repaying the $25 million bond will cost over $45 million during the next 30 years, French said that it is standard practice for universities to take advantage of the markets when pursuing capital projects. He said that now was an especially appealing time to incur debt because interest rates are so low.French does not expect Brandeis to seek another bond of this size to make other improvements as laid out in the master plan. Much of the remaining goals will be accomplished through massive fundraising efforts. In addition, French said that the upcoming overhaul will lower future maintenance costs, and open up future opportunities for growth.