A new building at Williams Village will begin construction in January.
According to the campus construction Web site, the building will allow for the development of new residential academic programs and provide more on-campus housing opportunities to CU students. The expansion, lead by project manager Heidi Roge, will affect many future students and their learning and housing possibilities.
“The project calls for a 500 bed resident hall, designed to hold two new residential academic programs,” Roge said.
This building is a necessity because of the increase in enrollment as well as low vacancy rates in Boulder housing, according to the Web site.
Roge informed the CU Independent that project staff of the new building conducted a meeting on Oct. 19 in Stearns Central in order to include current Will Vill residents and allow for any questions or concerns to be resolved.
“The purpose of the meeting was to share with the students information about the upcoming building so they would be aware of the plan as well as future construction,” Roge said.
Construction, Roge said, is estimated to cost $51.5 million and should be completed in July 2011.
The construction will inevitably take part during the school year and therefore raises a few possible concerns regarding disruption to current Will Vill residents.
Frank Bruno, vice chancellor for administration, spoke with the CU Independent regarding the significance of the construction to Will Vill residents, as well as means in which to minimize their effects.
“Any project can impact one’s life as there will invariably be noise,” Bruno said. “It is the goal to try very hard to limit impact on the students.”
CU students and residents of Will Vill who attended the meeting said they grasped a better understanding of the new development.
Lauren Moniz, an 18-year-old freshman open-option major and member of the Residence Hall Association, said she isn’t too concerned about the construction.
“I can see why a new building could be helpful,” Moniz said. “Although I live in Stearns West and will be able to hear the noise, the project staff ensured me that the sound and impacts of construction would be minimal.”
Other students said they are slightly more hesitant about the construction.
“There is really no way to tell how the construction will affect those of us who live in Williams Village,” said Megan Buckles, an 18-year-old freshman open-option major. “But I really hope it will not be too disruptive.”
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Colleen Smith at Colleen.p.smith@colorado.edu.