The Triangle

Issue date: 8/19/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Residential Living Office

The University has recently announced that a new residence hall will soon be constructed at the vacant basketball court at 33rd and Race streets and ready for the Fall 2006 move-in.

According to Director of Communications for Student Life and Administrative Services James Katsaounis, recent plans for the new hall have been resolved, as three companies have submitted bids for architectural designs for the building. Intech Construction won the bid as their proposal was established on pattern, utilized materials and cost.

"Of the designs submitted, an L-shaped building was chosen because it engages the design and landscape of North Hall, helping to form a gateway to the residential portion of campus," Katsaounis said. "The building will be raised up to allow passage and enhance pedestrian sequence. The L shape will wrap around the south and west edges of the site, opening a large outdoor space that is shared across 33rd Street with the green space in front of North Hall."

Katsaounis also confirmed that rumors on the closing of 33rd Street is false. Rather, limited closure will occur on Cherry Street with access only to the properties between 33rd and 34th Streets. He also stated that once construction begins sometime between late September and early October, Cherry Street will close, and those who park their vehicles on Cherry Street must find alternative routes for parking, as the University is unable to offer special discount parking at University City garages.

"The new residence hall will consist of suite style apartment living, as does North and East Halls," Katsaounis said. Each suite will house four students. The suite will have two bedrooms, bath and toilet room, kitchenette and living area. The building will consist of 12 floors, including the ground floor, a capacity for 492 beds, plus one for a Resident Assistant per floor, two student lounges per floor, three elevators, one large multi-purpose room, bike storage room, laundry facilities and a Resident Director apartment with office."

The new facility will be fully strewn for fire safety. It will have floor to ceiling glass walls in the common areas to allow natural light to enter the floors. Furthermore, the exterior will be composed of glass, brick and metallic silver prefabricated metal panels to give the building a modern appearance that blends with the surrounding buildings attractively.

"[The new facility] will increase student housing opportunities while providing living accommodations that meets the needs of today's students," Katsaounis said.

The basketball courts that once occupied the space were shut down three years ago due to the construction of the Pearlstein Business Learning Center. During this time, construction workers needed a space reserved for parking and storage purposes, and there was limited space around the campus. The courts were used for this purpose, but have remained closed since then.

"The University has a high demand for my residential living space on campus," Katsaounis said. "Building the new residence hall at the old basketball courts will place the new hall within the University's residential living area."

Moreover, Katasounis stated that Senior Vice President for Student Life and Administrative Services Anthony Caneris is open to the likelihood of relocating the basketball courts with the collaboration of the Undergraduate Student Government Association. This potential endeavor will depend on location, security and cost of rebuilding.

"Although we [the USGA] had proposed plans for the restoration of the basketball courts, the location is the perfect place for a new residence hall," USGA Director of Public Relations Daniel Steinberg. "With the basketball courts, there were always-and probably still would be-issues with the neighborhood kids. Housing is undoubtedly the most pressing issue at Drexel, an it's refreshing to see it addressed in such a timely manner."

Steinberg further stated that opportunities for new recreational facilities is a likely option to be considered. With the Campus Improvement Initiative, submissions are always welcome, and if any student has an original proposal for adding recreational space to the Campus, they are advised to visit the USGA's new Web site, which launches Sept.1.

"We have seen the preliminary plans for the hall and the building is quite attractive," Steinberg added. "It makes great use of the available space and does not significantly increase the density in the area. When walking by, you are not going to feel like you're in Center City. There's enough open space to know that you are still on campus."

Additionally, Steinberg stated that the USGA would support the project for the new residential hall if it increases quality housing for students.

"This new hall is an excellent addition to our current buildings," Director of the Office of University Housing Michael Scales said. "It will allow us to address the always-present demand for housing. I hope that our students will be as excited about the new residence hall as we are in Business Operations."

Katasounis further stated under the headship of President Papadakis and Senior Vice President Caneris, the University has both erected two buildings and renovated two since arriving in 1995. The Van Rennsselaer Hall was repaired and restored entirely in 1997 after it was closed due to a fire in 1991 that left the building to ruin. East Hall was newly built in 2000, and Stiles Hall at the Center City Campus was renovated in 2004.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools