Artist's rendering of part of buildings in the first phase.
Housing project to begin at university
One of the largest, if not the largest,
single construction project at Shippensburg University begins Aug. 4 and will
end in 2015 with all new residence halls for on-campus students. The project
also means changes in roads and parking on campus that will affect members of
the campus community as well as visitors.
“Shippensburg 
University strives
to provide our students with the academic and support services they need to
reach their dreams,” said President Bill Ruud. “These new residence halls will
further enhance our nationally-recognized excellence by providing students with
additional out-of-class experiences that will help them academically and
personally. When the buildings are complete, students will have outstanding
facilities in which they will live and, as importantly, learn. We're excited
about this opportunity to meet the needs of our students.”
Phase one of the three-phase
project will include construction of three residence halls, two on the north
side of campus and one on the south side. The student-approved project is under
the direction of Shippensburg University Student Services Inc. (SUSSI), an independent
501(c)(3), non-profit organization that serves as the voice for the student
community and is separate and distinct from the university. SUSSI is the project
owner and is responsible for financing and construction.
The overall project includes
razing all but one of the current residence halls and constructing all new
residence halls in semi-suite and full-suite arrangements. It is being
developed by Campus Apartments, one of the nation’s largest developers, owners
and managers of student housing. Cost of the initial phase is approximately $70
million with total project cost estimated to be more than $ 200 million.
In 2007 a comprehensive
housing plan was prepared as part of the university’s facilities master plan.
The university currently has seven traditional residence halls and one
suite-style facility. These facilities were built between 1959 and 1976. In
addition it leases an apartment building adjacent to campus from the
Shippensburg University Foundation. All these residence facilities can house a
total of 2,715 students.
When the three-phase project
is completed in summer 2015, total capacity will be 2,975 students, an increase
of 260 over current capacity.
In 2010, a market analysis
determined a strong demand by students for new housing and the project was
subsequently approved. The new housing will feature semi-suite and full-suite
accommodations. Full suites and two-bedroom suites will also have a living room
and kitchenettes.
Phase one includes
construction of three buildings, two on the north side of campus adjacent to
Adams Drive and one on the south side of campus near Reed Operations Center.
The buildings will house 924 beds in semi-suite and full-suite plans. One
building will include a wellness center housing the current health center and
counseling center, and one building will include facilities for the
university’s Honors Program. Students should be able to move into this phase
for the Spring 2013 semester.
Phase two calls for three new
buildings to open in August 2014 and phase three calls for three new buildings
to open in summer 2015.
Because of the project, changes to selected roads
and parking areas on campus are underway or planned.
Lebanon Drive is closed from Adams Drive to Etter Health Center and the Visitor-2
parking lot by McLean Hall is also closed. The one-way section of Lebanon Drive
is now two-way from the Reisner Dining Hall
parking lot to Cumberland Drive.
Beginning Aug. 4, the contractor
will start installing construction fences around
the two housing sites. On the south side of campus, fencing will close off Dauphin Drive from York Drive to the end of Lackhove Hall. The Resident-1 and Faculty/Staff-7 lots and
the volleyball court near the Faculty Office Building will also be closed. For
a drawing on the area, please go to http://www.ship.edu/news/Southside.
On the north side of campus, fencing will be
installed closing off Lebanon Drive from Adams Drive
to Etter Health Center and closing the Visitor-2 parking lot by McLean
Hall. A portion of the Resident-3 lot near McLean Hall will also be
closed. For a drawing on the area, please go to http://www.ship.edu/news/Northside.
Starting Aug. 8, York
Drive from Dauphin Drive to Reed Operations
Center will be closed for construction of a new parking lot in the grassy area between
York Drive and the service areas of Kriner Hall and Huber Art Center. The
area will remain closed until the new parking lot
is complete about the end of October.
Visitors to the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center will still have easy access to the center but are asked to follow directional signage and be aware of possible changes.
Information will also be posted on the campus
construction website available at http://www.ship.edu/Facilities/Campus_Construction.
7.29.11