Article published November 17, 2009
RESIDENCE OVERHAUL
BGSU plans for 2 new dormitories
By MEGHAN GILBERT-CUNNINGHAM
BLADE STAFF WRITER
BOWLING GREEN - Bowling Green State University has selected the sites for two new residence halls, but it will mean demolishing a dorm and two fraternity houses while also moving students during the school year.
The new dorms are expected to be ready for students in August, 2011, and are part of an overhaul of residence and dining halls.
"We pride ourselves on our residential life and residential communities, but our halls need some upgrades," BGSU President Carol Cartwright said.
One of the new residence halls will be built off Wooster Street on the site of Rodgers Quadrangle and the Sigma Phi Epsilon and Phi Kappa Tau fraternity houses.
While Rodgers was closed before this school year in anticipation of changes, the students who live in the fraternity houses are figuring out where they will live.
The university provided the fraternities, which have about 60 students combined living in the houses, options last week for different on-campus housing.They are asked to move during winter break because demolition is planned for April to make way for construction of the new dorms.
Zac Ankrom, president of the BGSU Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter, said there's a lot of history in the house that will be lost. The fraternity has 1,500 alumni and many have lived in that house since 1965, he said.
"It is a very difficult time, but we do understand that the university needs to do what they need to, to get up the new residence halls," said Mr. Ankrom, a senior studying health-care administration.
BGSU plans to build a "Greek Village" as part of the campus building overhaul, but that is several years away, said Joe Oravecz, associate vice president for student affairs.
The two fraternities slated for demolition would be given first preference on their new houses in that village, he said.
The other residence hall will be built on a commuter parking lot north of Offenhauer Towers.
The project is expected to cost between $30 million and $40 million.
Ms. Cartwright said it is an investment in the university's future and noted capital projects come from a different pool of money than the operating budget.
Residence halls eventually pay for themselves through student room and board fees, she said.
The two sites were selected because they are close to academic buildings.
BGSU officials first looked at renovating Rodgers, but it was decided it would be more economical and fit their needs better to build a new residence hall, said Michael Griffel, director of residence life.
"The building was not something we were proud of any longer," he said.
Rodgers was built in 1955 and primarily has double rooms with 580 beds, Mr. Griffel said.
The fraternity houses were built around the same time.
The new residence halls are being designed and could be one or a couple of buildings at each site, but there will be more than 800 beds among them, said Steven Krakoff, associate vice president of capital planning and design.
The new hall on the northwest corner of campus will be suite style to appeal to upperclassmen.
The one to replace Rodgers will have a community setting with single and double beds and more social spaces for students.
"What we want to create is a much more personalized experience, primarily for freshmen and sophomore students on campus," Mr. Krakoff said.
Contact Meghan Gilbert-Cunningham
at: mcunningham@theblade.com
or 419-724-6134.
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