If Baker University’s schedule goes as planned, the current residents of two residence halls should be savoring their last year living there.
With the completion of a new residence hall by August 2008, Denious and Jolliffe halls will soon be serving students in a different way.
With the idea of “Living to the north. Learning to the south,” University President Pat Long said Denious will become a “one-stop shop,” housing the financial aid, records and registration, admissions and business offices, as well as the mail and copy center. Jolliffe will be home to an administration building, while the former administration building, Constant Hall, will be turned into classrooms and offices.
Director of Physical Plant Gary Walbridge said the new residence hall, which will be located between Pulliam Center and Jolliffe, will hold more than Denious and Jolliffe combined.
“The building will hold 190 beds and be 50,000 plus square feet with three stories,” he said. “On each floor will be a lobby, and we will refer to the hall as a Living and Learning Center.”
Jo Adams, vice president of financial services, said the current capacity of Baker’s residence halls and Horn and Markham Apartments is 524 people. With Jolliffe holding 31 people and Denious holding 96 people, the new 190-bed residence hall will increase the total capacity by 63 people. The apartments and Gessner and Irwin halls will continue to house students as usual.
Junior Tracy Light said the new residence hall will improve Baker’s image.
“It will be a nice addition to Baker especially because the residence halls need to be renovated or updated,” she said. “It will be nice to have a new place with new everything.”
Walbridge said each floor will hold a room about the size of a classroom, where meetings can be held, and possibly even classes in the future.
“It will be coed,” Walbridge said. “At least at this point, that’s what we’ve planned.”
Although the new residence hall will take over parking space across from Harter Union, Long said the parking lot paved behind Denious this summer, combined with additional parking to be paved near Bennett Art Building, should create enough parking for residents and visitors.
Walbridge said Baker purchased a house at Seventh and Chapel Street to tear down to provide parking.
Senior Andy Hannon, who lives in the apartments, said the lack of parking near the new residence hall will cause problems.
“There won’t be parking for the new residence building right in front of the building,” Hannon said. “During move-in day it will cause chaos.”
Long said the ground breaking of the residence hall has been delayed while Baker acquires approvals from the city.
An exact ground breaking date should be decided after the city council meeting Tuesday.