Published: Feb 1, 2006
The University of Tampa began site preparation in early February for a
448-bed residence and dining hall, temporarily designated as Residence
Hall VI. When completed in the fall of 2007, the facility will provide
additional capacity for the fast-growing residential campus.
UT's Board of Trustees approved a $45-million bond issue to support
construction of the residence hall, along with a 700-space expansion of
the West Parking Garage, bringing total capacity of the structure to
1,600 cars. It will be completed in the fall of 2006 at a cost of $5.8
million.
"These new projects are a continuation of the
development of the campus master plan, which today supports in excess
of 5,100 students," said President Ron Vaughn.
Cost of the
seven-story residence is $38.7 million, but thanks to a $5-million
donation from an anonymous donor, the amount to be financed from the
bond issue is $33.7 million. The remainder of the bond issue will fund
the necessary fees, permits, debt service reserves and other mandatory
expenditures.
The new hall will sit northeast of the UT track
and directly across from David A. Straz Jr. Hall, the most recently
completed campus residence. It will reflect the latest in university
campus amenities. The first floor will include a separate residence
hall entrance, lobby, ATM and front desk.
It also will feature
a variety of dining options, including Pandini's, Dairy Queen and
Orange Julius, Sedona Grill, Salsa Rico, Jazzman's, the Club and the
Garden Gourmet, Green Grocer and a convenience store.
Floors
two through seven will be residential, and each room will be
suite-style with a common living room, two double bedrooms, a
bathroom/shower and twin lavatories. All rooms will be cable and
network ready. The second floor also will include a large community
room, laundry, vending and study area, as well as a hall director’s
apartment.
"Our on-going demand for on-campus housing, coupled
with construction industry pressures posed by hurricane repairs and
shortages of materials, necessitate that we proceed immediately with
construction," said Vaughn.
Unlike most other state schools
and many privates, residential students far outnumber commuters at UT.
About 65 percent of UT students live in campus housing.
The
Beck Group construction firm has been named to build the
144,000-square-foot residence hall. Beck is familiar with the
University campus, having built Straz, Vaughn and Brevard halls, and
the Thomas Parking Garage.