Lee University Announces Construction of New Dormitory
Cleveland, TN–Lee University President Dr. Paul Conn and Vice President Dr. Mike Hayes have announced the ground-breaking of a new women’s dormitory.
Construction began on the women’s townhouse late last month for a brand-new women’s townhouse complex as the latest addition to the Lee University campus.
The building will feature 11 two-bedroom units with a capacity for 44 female students. It will be located on the grassy field behind the School of Nursing building, and a new parking lot will also be added in the back along Walker Street, according to Conn.
“The fall projections for occupancy are very high, so we think we’re going to be overflowing again next fall,” Conn said. He added that the completion will be later this year prior to the opening of the fall semester.
Lee is currently over capacity for female students to the point that dorms were overbooked and several dozen women had to be placed in auxiliary housing last year, according to Conn. The new building will eliminate the need for the university to rent out off campus apartments for students. It will be called “Keeble East” until another name is determined and will be very similar in design to the Livingston East complex a block away.
The project was also spurred on by responses from students and Residential Life and Housing, according to Cole Strong, assistant vice president for operations.
“We felt like we had a need to create some more housing of some sort, and that building another townhouse (of this design) would be our best bet and fit appropriately on the lot we have available,” Strong said.
Conn said the university has been “jumping through the hoops” on the project, which received a permit on Friday, March 17, and approval from the Board of Directors earlier in the month. Construction began the following week.
“I’m excited we’re going to get this done, and 44 female students will have a brand-new home next fall,” Conn said. “I think especially if you are a nursing student or a business major or a communication major that would be a nice place to be.”
The complex will cost approximately $1.2 million. The living cost to students will be the same as Brinsfield Row and Livingston East, residences that are higher than other dorms on campus, according to Conn. With the new construction, Lee University should be able to accommodate all students on campus.
In addition to the townhomes construction, other projects currently underway at Lee University include a new home for the Department of Business and a ten-story campus landmark called The Forum.
(Source: Lee University)
