Giving the go ahead for massive dorm construction, ASU President Michael Crow plans to revitalize the south end of campus and increase student housing by nearly 60 percent.
"We need more residence halls to accommodate all freshman and every student who wants to live in a residence hall," Crow said. "Particularly freshman."
Currently ASU houses approximately 5,400 students. Within the next few years, Crow hopes to add an additional 3,000 to 3,500 sleeping spaces. His rationale is students do better in school if they are nurtured in an environment with close proximity to their classes and professors.
"If students are academically cultured, we think they will have better chance of academic success," Crow said, adding of his vision, "It will be a 21st century academic village."
Most of the construction will be concentrated around Apache Boulevard on campus, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Jim Rund.
A recreational space with a field for intramurals is also planned to accompany the residential halls.
The design stage is scheduled to start in January and construction is slated to begin in spring 2004, according to Rund. Overall costs will reach approximately $60 million.
"Since we are getting funding through private/public partnerships, [the money used] will not influence or affect tuition or state revenues," Crow assured in light of recent student concerns over tuition hikes.
In a separate project, a proposal for new fraternity housing was just approved last week, in what Rund calls "the first step of the redevelopment of the south side of campus."
The fraternity project is estimated to cost $25 million and will provide of 550 additional living spaces upon completion in January 2004. It will be located on the east side of Sonora Hall.
Reach the reporter at jennifer.summers@asu.edu.
