Open House Sessions Monday, Oct. 17 in 1st Choice Savings Centre

It's going to be easier for returning students to gain a coveted space in residence in the near future.

Plans are being finalized for a new residence complex to be built in Aperture Park, south of Piikani House and Tsuu'tina House, and across from the Residence Village and Paterson Centre.

Construction on the 11,589 sq.m. (124,743 sq. ft.) building is expected to begin shortly and be complete by summer 2013.

Several drawings are included here for feedback. As well, a pair of Open House sessions will be held on Monday, Oct. 17 in the lobby of the 1st Choice Savings Centre. From 2 to 4 p.m. and again from 6:30 to 8 p.m., architect renderings can be viewed with architects on hand to answer questions.

The Housing office encourages people to view the plans and offer feedback comments by e-mail to housing@uleth.ca.

The facility will feature 259 beds in four and two-bedroom configurations. All spaces will have kitchens and double beds.

Several studio rooms are being designed for long term guests and visiting lecturers, there are several accessible suites, and a massive amount of social and study space on site.

A room function list is included, below.

"We identified second and third-year returning students as a priority for this building," says Terri Thomas, manager of Housing Services. "We also designed a large number of features into the building that we hope will encourage student interaction and connections. Our residences have always had a long wait list, and this should also help with that challenge."

Thomas adds that with nine study lounges for support of academic pursuits, a games room, exercise centre and a multi-purpose room for club meetings and other activities, the space should see plenty of use.

The L-shaped building is centred around a quad-style green space, near a large park and lake. It is also directly across a lane from the indoor and outdoor amenities in the Paterson Centre, that include beach volleyball, basketball courts and other recreational activities.

The new facility, in conjunction with the current renovation projects underway, will increase the number of available rooms on campus by more than 60 per cent, from 589 to 947 single beds.

In addition, campus housing has 31 units in Siksika House dedicated to family housing.

BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS

- Five-storey residence complex (four levels on the east wing, five levels on the north wing)

- The two wings of the building are only connected on the main floor

- 259 double beds

- Room types:

- Four-bedroom suite design with two full washrooms, full
kitchen and common area in each unit (50 units)

- Two-bedroom suites with one full washroom, full kitchen
and common area

- Two-bedroom accessibility units on the main floor

- Fifth storey studio units

- Nine study lounges

- Building lounge

- Games room

- A large multi-use project room with the capability of dividing the spacing into three small study spaces

- Exercise room

- On-site laundry facilities

- Outdoor green spaces

- New office space for Residence Life and Conference Services