Though fewer students are living on campus this year than lastyear, Ball State University still plans for a new residence halland might break ground in as little as one year.
Compared with last year's student enrollment of 18,310, thisfall's enrollment has decreased by 1.5 percent and is at 18,043,according to a press release. While the number of students livingin residence halls is also slightly lower this year, studentoccupancy in terms of general trends has been increasing throughoutthe past four years, Alan Hargrave, director of housing andresidence life, said.
As a result, having the new facility will help the universitycontinue to accommodate the number of students who come to BallState in future years, he said.
The new hall will be able to house 500 students and is expectedto open in fall 2007. It will be located north of the DeHorityComplex and will be the first housing addition to Ball State sincethe Johnson Complex was constructed in 1969, Hargrave said.
He said a master planning process for the new hall began in2000, when consultants were hired from Anderson Strickler LLC, afirm based in Washington, D.C., that specializes in projectdevelopment for educational institutions.
ASL conducted a study to receive student feedback on designpossibilities for the new hall. In addition to using 14 focusgroups composed of various students, families and faculty members,the study provided one-half of all Ball State students with housingoption surveys and the other half with dining option surveys,Hargrave said.
In December 2003, the Board of Trustees then approved the hiringof two architecture firms - CSO Architects and Interiors ofIndianapolis and Solomon, Cordwell and Buenz.
Early this year, Hargrave said he presented several design ideasfor the new hall, such as possible room configurations andamenities, to members of the Student Government Association and theResidence Hall Association.
"We did every possible constituency we could think of," Hargravesaid. "We certainly want to design a building that students wantand that is affordable for students."
He said while designs have been drawn for the new hall, theyhave not yet been finalized.
"They haven't been nailed down," he said. "In terms of havingeverything ready to go, it's still in progress."
Hargrave said several key amenities students have requested forthe new hall include air conditioning, more studying space, morewireless Internet capacities and more privacy in restrooms andshowers. He said the hall will also likely be co-ed.
Because the building will be brand new, a price will probably beattached to housing costs in order to cover extra amenities thatwill be included in the building, Hargrave said. The price,however, will remain affordable for students, he said.
Randy Hyman, dean of students, said one primary way to helpdecrease the cost per student is for the university to remain asclose as possible to full student occupancy every year.
"We certainly don't want too much space on campus," Hyman said."But we want the space we have to be a great space. I think havingthe new residence hall will inspire interest on part of thestudents for residing on campus, and it's a signal that theuniversity has a strong commitment to respond to studentneeds."
Hargrave said a mock-up of a sample room designed for the newhall will be set up eventually in the lounge of Trane Hall inDeHority Complex. The Board of Trustees later has to approve thedesign, which then has to go to various state agencies for furtherapproval.
"There's a whole series of steps that have to be followed," hesaid. "All of these have to happen before we start breakingground," he said.
He said when construction finally begins, many people might beinconvenienced as noise, dust and road blocks become inevitable.But the final result will be worth it, he said. The new area willreflect a residential neighborhood that will provide a park-likeenvironment where students can walk, eat outside and participate inrecreational activities, Hargrave said.
"So it will really transform the east side of campus," hesaid.
Hargrave said he is looking forward to seeing the new hall cometogether throughout the next few years and is sure it will instilla sense of pride within the Ball State community.
"It will be exciting for Ball State. I am confident we willbuild a high-quality facility that will benefit the university,"Hargrave said. "It will be a beautiful building with the kind ofspace students will enjoy, and it will increase studentsatisfaction with their on campus experience."
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