>>January
      23, 2001

      
New proposed residence
      hall to mix community with academics

      
University of Idaho officials
      have begun a search for an architect to design a proposed residence
      complex on the north side of campus. The complex will cost an
      estimated $30 million and will focus on mixing a community setting
      with academic resources.

      


      There are three prospective sites for the roughly 600-bed facility
      according to Michael Griffel, director of UI Residences. The
      three areas being considered are the Wallace Complex lawn area,
      the Theophilius Tower parking lot, a silver lot, and the lot
      between the Gault/Upham complex and the power plant, a gold lot.

      


      Dan Schoenberg, director of UI Auxiliary Services, sees the latter
      as the most promising spot to build the new residence facility
      and believes it would be in the university's best interest to
      tear down Gault/Upham and replace it with the proposed complex.
      

      


      "Gault/Upham would take more dollars to renovate than building
      a totally new residence hall," Schoenberg said.

      


      He also noted that parking is a major issue within the university
      community and does not want to see the new facility take away
      even more lots.

      


      "One solution we have come up with is to build what we call
      podium-based housing. What that means is the residence would
      be built on a platform and there would be parking underneath,"
      Schoenberg said.

      


      The facility planners, Brailsford & Dunlavey, were contracted
      to write the proposal for the new residence facility. The basic
      plan would includes implementing academic resources such as classrooms
      and faculty offices within the complex. Each college can choose
      to participate. 

      


      "It's certainly not required of the colleges to participate.
      It's going to be a cooperative arrangement where we all work
      together," Schoenberg said.

      


      The proposed setup of the facility is one in which multiple buildings,
      similar to Greek houses and the Scholars Residence, will house
      a maximum of 60 people each. Altogether, the housing would serve
      approximately 600 students. According to Schoenberg, if Gault/Upham
      is removed and the new residence facility is implemented, the
      university will be offering 100 more beds than it is currently.
      

      


      Schoenberg believes that more importantly, the new facility will
      offer a more cohesive learning environment for students who choose
      to live on campus.

      


      "As you come to the university, you're going to have more
      choices. As you go through college, you're going to desire increasing
      amounts of independence," Schoenberg said. "That is
      what this facility will hopefully do. It will make the transition
      throughout college easier for students who choose to stay with
      us on campus. We hope to be able to provide students who stay
      with us a better educational experience."

      


      According to Schoenberg, the current residence halls are approximately
      85-90 percent full. He expects to hire an architect for the new
      project by late February and have the project at least halfway
      done within the next two years.

      


      "Ideally, the plan is to have at least half of the operable
      for the fall of 2003," Schoenberg said.
 

      
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