To maintain or to modernize

Many factors considered, studied in Eastern Washington University's decision to build new residence hall

By JOHN McCALLUM

Editor

An aging residence system and the need to ensure a quality college experience are some of the factors driving Eastern Washington University's process to open a new residence hall by fall 2013.

It's a process vice president of student affairs Stacey Morgan-Foster said has involved outside consultants and included input from student, faculty and staff communities on campus. A 2008-2009 housing master plan study done by the consultant firm Brailsford and Dulavey recommended that a phased $80 million renovation would be needed to bring the university's residence halls up to current standards.

All of Eastern's six campus residence halls were built between 1949 and 1969, the last being Streeter Hall, with Louise Anderson Hall – the first built – the last one upgraded, receiving renovations in 1994. In 2002, Eastern entered into a public-private partnership to build Brewster Hall located on Second Street in downtown Cheney.

One problem for the university, Morgan-Foster said, is the halls have been built in such a way that renovation is not easy, and in some cases may be too cost prohibitive to be practical. According to the housing plan none of the halls have fire sprinkler systems and most need major mechanical, electrical and structural work to reach standards and meet students' needs. Also, renovation would require taking that hall off line, severely cutting into Eastern's capacity.

The study noted that Eastern's 1,971-bed system has been running at 93 percent average occupancy over the last 10 years. Right now that capacity is at 86 percent, right where the university wants it, Morgan-Foster said, with unoccupied rooms available as surge space for unanticipated needs.

“We would need another building for surge space it we take one of these off line (for renovation),” Morgan-Foster said.

The housing study gave Eastern's board of trustees three options: continue spending $500,000-$750,000 annually in a piecemeal approach to modernization through minor improvements, spend $40 million on new construction and some upgrades and replacements, or invest in new construction and renovation of existing buildings, priced around $80 million.

The study recommended the third option and that is what trustees chose – beginning with construction of a new $25 million, 350-bed residence hall in what is now the parking lot south of Streeter Hall on Cedar Street between Tenth and Eleventh streets.

“It will be constructed and ready for occupancy in fall 2013,” Morgan-Foster said.

It's a tight timeline, leaving little wiggle room, but one EWU construction and planning director K.C. Traver said is doable. Currently the university is finalizing a contract with ALSC in Spokane for programming and pre-design.

“That's where we look at form and function of the building,” Traver said. “What do you want the building to do?”

If all goes well Traver said they expect to have a design by December 2011, with a March 2012 advertising of bids and notice to proceed, substantial completion by June 2013 and occupancy that September.

How that dorm looks will depend upon the pre-design process that will incorporate input from campus users and at least one focus group. Right now the hall is sized at 109,000 square foot, which Traver said could be 3-4 stories tall or more.

“Those are approximations to give the consultants an idea of what they're shooting for,” he added.

The location is attractive because it's close to the University Recreation Center and helps maintain Eastern as a pedestrian-oriented campus, something Traver likes. It also eliminates valued parking space, something he said they will have to consider down the line.

“Can it be absorbed somewhere else or created somewhere else?” Traver said. “Do we include it in the project or look at it in the overall view of the (university's) parking plan?”

Morgan-Foster said they also looked at the availability of student housing in Cheney as part of the housing plan. While enough to meet the university's needs, she noted that 60 percent of Eastern's on-campus students are freshmen, many the first in their families to attend college and potentially lacking good social assimilation skills.

She also said studies have shown that on-campus resident students tend to not only do better academically, especially freshmen, but also have quicker college completion rates than off-campus students. According to the university's master housing plan, the condition of the residential housing system can contribute positively to student recruitment and retention, engagement in campus activities and attachment to the university while providing a safe and secure environment.

“When students live on campus they tend to be more successful, more engaged,” Morgan-Foster said. “It's a good introduction to the college living environment (for freshmen). We're trying to improve that environment for students.”

Funding for the housing system upgrades will be provided through the sale of revenue bonds, which will be repaid via housing and dining system fee increases, increases Morgan-Foster said will be applied across the board, with students living in the new hall likely paying more to do so.

“Just like we have a premium on living in Brewster Hall,” she added.

The final component of the plan could be retiring of one of the current residence halls, potentially either Streeter or Morrison Hall to the north.

“That would be something for future discussion with the board,” Morgan-Foster said.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].