Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 1993 TAG: 9312170310
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Tech has received favorable comments from Blacksburg and Montgomery County officials on two possible sites for new dorms: the first in the heart of campus near Cassellcq Coliseum, the second in the special-purpose housing area between the Tech golf course and the U.S. 460 bypass. That area now houses fraternities and sororities.
Though the county and the town do not approve or disapprove university projects, they are given a chance to review and comment upon an environmental impact statement that Tech submitted to the state in October.
The new 250-bed dorms would cost approximately $8 million each, and would include eight-, six- and four-bedroom apartments, along with traditional two-bedroom suites, according to Tech plans.
Tech has submitted two of the dorm projects for environmental review; it has yet to begin preplanning for the other two, according to Larry Hincker, director of university relations.
The $32 million to build the dorms would come from revenues generated by dorm fees paid by students.
Before the new dorms can go forward, however, the university must gain General Assembly approval for plans to spend $17.7 million to convert Brodiecq and Raschecq halls into academic space and $1.3 million to plan for conversions of the Shanks, Monteithcq and Thomas dorms and the Shultzcq dining hall.
That combined sum of $19 million, part of Tech's $86 million capital improvements request for the 1994-96 state budget, would be paid for by general fund tax revenues, Hincker said.
The conversions and new construction would be the continuation of Tech's far-reaching ``Integrated Space Plan.''
The idea, Hincker said, is twofold: first, attack Tech's 500,000- to 600,000-square-foot space deficit by renovating old buildings at two-thirds the cost of constructing new buildings; second, consolidate all the residence halls and thereby realize savings by having just two dining halls.
The latter effort means that students eventually would be moved out of the turn-of-the-century dormitories on the northeast side of campus, known as the lower quad, which sits off Turner Street beside downtown Blacksburg.
Under the plan, there will be no net gain or loss of dormitory space, which now stands at approximately 8,800 beds, Hincker said.
The plan got under way with construction of the 270-bed Payne Hall, which opened this fall in the upper quad, next to Memorial Gymnasium.
It will continue this winter with the $6.2 million conversion of an old lower quad residence hall, Majorcq Williams Hall, into space for classes and offices.
The communications and English departments and social and natural sciences will be among the academic departments moved into the renovated dorms over the coming years, Hincker said.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***