Residence hall could be ready by fall term of 2005
2/6/2004
A 300-student residence hall could be ready for students on the University of Alabama in Huntsville campus by the fall term of 2005.
Preliminary plans for "Phase II" of the North Campus Residence Hall project were expected to be approved this morning by University of Alabama System Trustees meeting in Birmingham. The 104,000 square-foot, four-story building will be northeast of the current residence hall on Ben Graves Drive, according to John Maxon, assistant vice president of university housing.
Phase I, which opened in 2002, cost about $9.1 million and has about 248 beds in its "U" shaped building. Phase II will be a bit larger, if built according to the plans presented today, with 296 beds in an "H" shape. It will feature 34 studio-style apartments, six three-bedroom suites, and 61 four-bedroom suites. The estimated cost, including phones, furniture and all the amenities, is $11.7 million.
All bedrooms will be private with each resident sharing a full bath with one other resident. Each of the four floors will have a student lounge, and the ground floor will have a laundry facility, vending area, and large community gathering area.
The new dorm will match the other building's appearance with the same outer materials and color for brickwork, windows and roofing, said Mike Finnegan, UAH assistant vice president of facilities and operations. The location next to the existing residence hall, with a large green space, will allow for a courtyard between the two buildings, he said.
Maxon said university housing was at capacity - 1,024 students - last fall making it necessary to place some students on a waiting list.
"This was a result of a 22 percent increase in first time, full-time freshmen, and a 60 percent retention rate of housing residents from the last academic year to this year," he said.
Enrollment for the fall 2003 semester was 7,051, according to Ray Garner, UAH director of news services. Spring 2004 enrollment is 6,570, compared to 6,169 in spring 2003. Maxon said the new residence hall should provide enough bed space to house all students who want to live on campus.
The next steps will be final approval of the architectural drawings, putting the project out for bid, and selection of a general contractor.
"It is our hope work will begin in April," said Maxon.