Administration plans new residence hall
As the University of Indianapolis struggles to house its growing student population, planning stages have begun for the construction of a new residence hall on campus.
“We want everyone who wants to live on campus to have that option,” President Beverley Pitts said.
The new facility will be constructed between Warren Hall and Cravens Hall, and according to Dean of Students Kory Vitangeli, the university hopes to break ground right after Spring Term of the current school year.
“The goal is to create nice, upscale housing,” Vitangeli said. “We got a great response from students after the construction of East Hall, and we want to do something similar.”
Currently, the administration hopes that construction will be finished and the building will be ready for residency by the fall semester of 2012.
Planning for the new housing facility is still in the early stages, but it has been tentatively discussed that it will include both single and double rooms.
According to Vitangeli, the new residence hall will be used as upperclassmen housing, with the further intention of turning Warren, Cravens and Cory Bretz Halls exclusively to freshmen housing later on.
“The goal is do away with the overflow we have been experiencing in campus housing,” Vitangeli said.
The growing enrollment on campus has caused overflow not only in the residence halls, but also in campus parking lots.
Because this new residence hall will sit on an existing parking lot, students may be concerned that it will exacerbate an already strained parking situation on campus.
However, both Pitts and Vitangeli explained that measures are already in the works to replace the parking that will be lost to this new facility.
Pitts explained that new parking will be created adjacent to Warren Hall. Vitangeli added that not only will the spaces being lost to the project be replaced, but approximately 100 new spaces will be created.
This project is the last of the planned additions to campus, but Pitts made clear that the university is open to changes in the future to accommodate the student body.
“This is the last planned campus housing addition as of now,” Pitts said, stressing the word planned. “However, we are also looking into a renovation of some kind to the campus apartments. That will probably be the next major project, but like I said, we have not started the planning process as of now.”
Both Pitts and Vitangeli stressed that student input will be heavily regarded while planning for the new residence hall.
ISG and RHA have already shared their thoughts. However, a school wide survey as well as focus groups comprised of UIndy students will also contribute feedback for this new campus housing.
“We really want students to feel involved,” Vitangeli said. “We ultimately want to give students the kind of housing that they are looking for.”
Vitangeli encourages students to keep an eye on their e-mail over the next few weeks for a message containing additional information on the survey as well as how to get involved in one of the focus groups.
