2008 Woodie Awards
New $106 million residence hall project begins
By Frank Stern
Issue date: 1/21/08 Section: News
The construction company, P. Agnes, inc., is bound have construction of the first two residence halls completed by August 1, 2009 with an occupancy agreement ready. Following August 1, furniture will be installed to be ready before the Fall 2009 semester.
The second phase will include the demolition of Ramsey and Tyson Halls after students are successfully moved into the new residence halls. If there is a delay, students will be moved in as soon as they are finished.
After Ramsey and Tyson are demolished, two more residence halls will be built on those sites followed by two residence halls being erected after Wayne, Schmidt and Sanderson are demolished. Wayne will become athletic field similar to Hollinger Field.
Finally, McCarthy and Goshen will likely become offices or academic buildings. The construction of the six new buildings will result in 160 more beds on campus and new offices and benefits. Dormitory 'A' will house an information technology center and Dormitory 'B' will have five classrooms.
Most above-ground construction is scheduled around mid-March when according to Michael Laing, superintendent of the site, "anything of value" will be in place. He continued stating when students return from spring break there will "be a big hole in the ground and a lot of noise."
The residence halls will be, according to Przywara, up to par with other local universities.
"It's going to be dirty and noisy, but it's a generational upgrade," Przywara said. Przywara acknowledged that the residence halls haven't been upgraded since the 1960's.
An improvement in quality will also include a spike in price. The available five units will range from $562 to $721 per month, per student. The WCU foundation estimates an average increase between 20-25 percent in housing costs. Each room will include semi-private bathrooms split between 2-4 students, carpet, and central air-conditioning in each room. Rooms will also contain living areas outside bedrooms. The residence halls will keep lounges and include three elevators per building. Each building will hold 525 beds over seven stories.
Przywara stressed that safety is the largest area of focus for himself. He warned students that they should acknowledge the fence and safety signs and not try to "hop a fence" just to save a few minutes.
Przywara said that the building of these residence halls is a long overdue and students that are first-year students can move in and enjoy a high quality of living by their third-year at West Chester.
Frank Stern is a West Chester student majoring in English with minor journalism. He can be reached at FS628548@wcupa.edu.
The second phase will include the demolition of Ramsey and Tyson Halls after students are successfully moved into the new residence halls. If there is a delay, students will be moved in as soon as they are finished.
After Ramsey and Tyson are demolished, two more residence halls will be built on those sites followed by two residence halls being erected after Wayne, Schmidt and Sanderson are demolished. Wayne will become athletic field similar to Hollinger Field.
Finally, McCarthy and Goshen will likely become offices or academic buildings. The construction of the six new buildings will result in 160 more beds on campus and new offices and benefits. Dormitory 'A' will house an information technology center and Dormitory 'B' will have five classrooms.
Most above-ground construction is scheduled around mid-March when according to Michael Laing, superintendent of the site, "anything of value" will be in place. He continued stating when students return from spring break there will "be a big hole in the ground and a lot of noise."
The residence halls will be, according to Przywara, up to par with other local universities.
"It's going to be dirty and noisy, but it's a generational upgrade," Przywara said. Przywara acknowledged that the residence halls haven't been upgraded since the 1960's.
An improvement in quality will also include a spike in price. The available five units will range from $562 to $721 per month, per student. The WCU foundation estimates an average increase between 20-25 percent in housing costs. Each room will include semi-private bathrooms split between 2-4 students, carpet, and central air-conditioning in each room. Rooms will also contain living areas outside bedrooms. The residence halls will keep lounges and include three elevators per building. Each building will hold 525 beds over seven stories.
Przywara stressed that safety is the largest area of focus for himself. He warned students that they should acknowledge the fence and safety signs and not try to "hop a fence" just to save a few minutes.
Przywara said that the building of these residence halls is a long overdue and students that are first-year students can move in and enjoy a high quality of living by their third-year at West Chester.
Frank Stern is a West Chester student majoring in English with minor journalism. He can be reached at FS628548@wcupa.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Dorothy von Gerbig
posted 1/22/08 @ 8:04 AM EST
I am interested in a more complete explanation of exactly what the phrase "privately owned" means. Are the current dormitories "privately owned?" Or is this financial arrangement new? Has it been used on other college campuses? How does it impact the student? Is the construction money from the state or private sources?
David Gyza 05'
posted 1/22/08 @ 8:08 AM EST
Call me old fashioned, but WCU was beautiful before it started putting up all these monstrous buildings. I understand that the school is looking to upgrade and update and things like that, but it was it's small town charm that attracted many of my fellow alums to the school in the first place. (Continued…)
J Barrera '82
posted 1/22/08 @ 9:58 AM EST
Well, everything has a place in time and space! I will certainly miss the old Tyson, Schmidt and Ramsey buildings! I am glad Goshen will be spared the wrecking ball. (Continued…)
K Snyder
posted 2/11/08 @ 4:13 PM EST
I agree with the above two comments. I thought the residential quad was cramped with the addition of University Hall. And now two more halls will be constructed in an already too-tight space. (Continued…)
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