New residence hall to open in fall 2011

Texas A&M University-Commerce will have a new freshman residence hall in Fall 2011.

The hall will be built across from Whitley Hall on the corner of Culver St. and Highway 50/24. Five West Hall buildings will be demolished to make room for the upcoming construction.

Lutz, McGill, Petty, Hart or Stone halls will be demolished in May. Students living in these halls can reapply for Fall 2010 housing like other A&M-Commerce students who are planning to live on campus next semester. Students can move where they want according to the regulations of the housing department. Berry Hall will re-open fall 2010 while the new hall is being constructed giving students another option for on-campus housing.

"We are hoping to schedule demolition right after graduation in May," Interim Director of Residential Living and Learning Dennis Koch said. "The timeline shows the demolition of some of the West Hall Buildings in May and ground breaking on the new hall possibly late June but this is all very tentative for now."

Current students see the new residence hall as a way to attract a large incoming freshman class to A&M-Commerce.

"The new residence hall will be a great asset to A&M-Commerce," senior sports and recreation management major Shayne Daniel said. "Smith, Whitley and Berry Hall are not the most glamorous places to live on campus and cause many students to move off campus or back home after their freshmen year. The new residence hall will attract more students to A&M-Commerce and will give them a cleaner and more enjoyable place to live."

The plans for the new residence hall have not been finalized. However, residence life is anticipating 300 rooms in the new hall. The number of floors and how many rooms will be on each floor is still undetermined.

Unfortunately for sophomores, juniors and seniors at A&M-Commerce, the new hall will be available only to freshman students.

"Even though the new residence hall will only be open to freshman students I think it is a great idea," senior social work major Taylor Smith said. "I have never lived in Smith Hall, but I have heard that it wasn't pleasant. I think the new hall will attract more students to A&M-Commerce and will make the campus more attractive."

For more information on the construction of the new residence hall and current housing at A&M-Commerce contact Interim Director of Residential Living and Learning Dennis Koch at Dennis_Koch@tamu-commerce.edu.