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Campus Drive Closure Signals Start of North Residence Hall Project

Ferris State UniversityPreparations are underway to transform a section of Ferris State University's North Campus, and establish the footprint for a multi-story residence hall, a project intended to assist the transition of first-year students to campus life.

The removal of hardware and disassembly of a communications tower near Campus Drive and Lot 50, near the Automotive Building began on Monday, July 18. Associate Vice President for Physical Plant Michael Hughes said that work precedes the permanent closure of Campus Drive, from Ives Street to Warren Avenue, at 8 a.m. on Monday, July 25. Access to the southern entrance of Parking Lot 57, which serves primarily the Automotive and Prakken buildings, will be re-established in the fall of 2017.

"This is being done in preparation to fence off the work site for the residence hall," Hughes said. "Actual site work on the grounds that encompass parking lots 9 and 29 will begin the week of Monday, Aug. 1."

The university's board of trustees have approved construction services for a residence hall, featuring space for 350 to 400 beds, at a cost not to exceed $28.15 million. Hughes said that the contracts for site work, and concrete construction are being awarded at this time.

"A website detailing the North Residence Hall project is likely to come online around Aug. 1," Hughes said. "We know this project is of considerable interest for students, alumni and the public, and a webcam will give all those groups an opportunity to keep up with the work as it progresses."

The North Residence Hall is the product of an extensive visioning and planning process that included student input. Important student support services are nearby, including the FLITE Library, the University Center and its Quad Café, many academic classrooms and laboratories, and the greenspace of the Quad. The trustees authorized the university's administration to move forward with construction services that would have the new facility ready for occupancy in August, 2017.


PHOTO CAPTION: Preparations are underway to develop a new residence hall on the north end of the Ferris State University campus. A communications tower near Campus Drive and Parking Lot 50 has had its hardware removed and will be disassembled.