A historic building on UT 's campus is expected to undergo renovations in early 2009.

Ayres Hall, located on the hill, is expected to start renovations in January 2009. However, Jeff Maples, UT's senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, said renovations could possibly start sooner.

"Ayres is a very historic building. It's a landmark," Maples said.

Ayres, which is the building for the department of mathematics, has an outdated structure and lacks an air conditioning system. Maples said the renovations to Ayres have been on the to do list for nearly 10 years.

The cost to complete all the renovations will be nearly $20 million. The funding for the project will come from the state.

The interior of the building will be renovated in order to bring it up to code. One of the biggest changes will be the addition of air conditioning. Currently, there is no air conditioning because of the building's old age.  The building is only equipped with furnaces for heat in the winter.

Ayres will keep its same outward appearance. Besides removing grime from the brick, the exterior will remain the same architecturally, Maples said.

When the renovations are complete, in addition to the new air conditioning units, the inside will be completely new.

"It will look like a brand new building on the inside, and it will be up to code," Maples said.

The renovations are expected to last between 24 and 30 months. While the renovations are being done, Ayres will be closed, so classes will be held in other buildings around campus.

"The classes will be spread out all over campus," Maples said.

The company who will do the renovations is yet to be determined.