The Triangle

Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Pete Croteau The Language and Communication Center, which is located at 33rd and Powelton may be demolished to make room for residence halls, as it stood Feb 7.

The University plans to build two additional residence halls to house approximately 500 students each. The administration is considering several sites, including a site behind Ross Commons on 34th Street and the current location of the English Learning Center on 33rd Street.

"A construction start date has not been set, as an architect still needs to be hired and a design approved," said James Katsaounis, director of communications for Student Life and Administrative Services. "The first of the two residence halls announced to be built is expected to be ready by fall 2008."

The new dormitory will have to be greater than 10 stories to accommodate 500 students. However, the final number of floors depends on the size of the site where the building will be located.

The plan is for the rooms to be suites. The administration has not yet decided whether the residence will be for freshmen or upperclassmen.

"The University is looking to increase housing for both freshmen and upperclassmen," Katsaounis said.

If the ELC site is chosen for construction of the new residence, then the ELC and the accompanying parking lot will be demolished. This means classes would have to be relocated. Where the classes would be relocated has not yet been determined because the final site selection has not been made, according to Katsaounis.

"The University has plans to build a second parking garage next to Hess Laboratories to accommodate the two new residence halls and increase parking availability on campus," Katsaounis said.

Simone Schlichting-Artur, director of Drexel Modern Languages and senior lecturer in German, is part of the staff that works mainly at the ELC. The Triangle asked Schlichting-Artur what was known about the plans.

"At this point, I really do not have any information regarding your questions," Schlichting-Artur said. "We are aware of the demolition but not of future plans."

The Triangle talked to the residents in the Powelton Village area, where the new dorm will be located. Most of the residents indicated that they did not support the proposal. A number of them feel that the University is overstepping its bounds.

Continued...

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