In response to the housing pinch felt throughout its main campus, Spring Arbor University (SAU) will construct a new residence hall, scheduled for occupancy by the start of the Fall 2010-11 academic year. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, at the corner of Cottage and College Streets, the site of the new building.
The groundbreaking ceremony will include introductory remarks by President Charles Webb; a description of the project by Robert Wight, senior vice president of Hobbs-Black, lead architect for the project; remarks from Brian Knapp, president of student government association; and Les Dietzman, chairman of the SAU board of trustees; and a dedicatory prayer by University Chaplain Ron Kopicko.
The University’s decision to build the new residence was driven by current overcrowding of campus housing.
“Since 1999, the number of students choosing to live on campus has almost doubled,” says Kim Hayworth, vice president for student development and learning. “We've expanded from offering just three traditional resident hall structures to 28 total residences including four residence halls, seven village units, five apartment buildings and 13 ‘Koinonia’ [community] houses.”
Within recent years, the University often housed three individuals in rooms typically reserved for two. Last year, as many as 45 double-occupancy rooms were used as triples, prompting the University to consider an additional facility.
The 53,000-square-foot residence hall has been designated as men’s housing and will contain four floors of 107 double occupancy rooms to accommodate a total of 214 students. The facility will feature an open lounge area on the main level, a study lounge area with computers and printing capabilities, a conference room, laundry room, prayer chapel, exercise room, television room and game room. It will be named University Hall and resemble Gainey Hall, which was completed in 2006.
SAU has contracted with Wieland-Davco Corporation of Lansing as construction manager for the project, and has chosen Hobbs-Black Architects of Lansing as its architect. Wieland-Davco has constructed numerous regional projects, such as the Greater Lansing Association of Realtors building and the Henry L. Brown Municipal Building in Coldwater, Mich. Hobbs-Black has designed such projects as the Lansing Community College Health and Human Services Building, and the Henry Ford Community College Culinary Arts and Student Center.
“Wieland-Davco and Hobbs-Black have been great partners to work with through the planning process. We look forward to a quality building done on a timely basis," says Jerry White, vice president for finance and administration. "We anticipate this project to greatly improve our housing capacity and to provide an atmosphere that promotes community and learning.”
“Living on campus offers students the opportunity to both live and learn side-by-side in a Christian community,” adds Hayworth. “Our goal is to play a pivotal part in the whole-person development of SAU students.”
For more information about the groundbreaking ceremony or the residence hall, contact the business office at 517.750.6420.