$5 Million Gift for Residential Commons

[RE Tycoon]

looks like the long ago announced sophomore living requirement is closer to reality...

Link

Elisabeth Martin Armstrong and William D. Armstrong of Denver have committed $5 million toward construction of SMU’s residential commons complex, which will have five commons buildings and a dining hall.

In addition to student housing, each commons building will include classrooms, seminar space and faculty accommodations. Each will also include expanded opportunities for learning, informal interactions and mentoring, said Paul Ludden, SMU provost and vice president for academic affairs.

The residential commons model represents a new direction in SMU student housing. The five facilities will enable SMU to implement its new requirement that sophomores, in addition to first-year students, live on campus.

Construction will begin in early 2012 north of Mockingbird Lane near the Dedman Center for Lifetime Sports and Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the main campus. The project, expected to open in fall 2014, will provide housing for 1,250 students. Existing residence halls will be renovated to achieve the residential commons model by 2014.

[RE Tycoon]

Not that I was ever expecting a significant remodel of the East side of the stadium (added seating or suites), but it appears that will no longer be an option once the commons are built.

Rendering Courtesy of the Observer

[PK]

Not that I was ever expecting a significant remodel of the East side of the stadium (added seating or suites), but it appears that will no longer be an option once the commons are built.

I would think that now that SMU owns or will soon own every thing to the east of the stadium that the zoning height restriction on the east side of the stadium will no longer be an issue.

[Peruna88]

And, once again, the Phony Pony makes an appearance.

[Water Pony]

The model representation looks good and fits like a glove into the SE portion on our campus. The decision to require sophmores to live on campus is a very good move and will enhance the student and campus experience, including a bigger student presensce throughout the day.

Being across from Dedman Center is a plus, as well as having the stadium and colesium close. Attendance at game should improve as a result, as well. Schools like Duke, ND, USC, Stanford, etc. all have rich campus life with comparable approaches.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Attendance at soccer should improve as well!

[Dooby]

Wonder if student tailgating will migrate to Doak Walker plaza, which SMU tried to sell as a tailgating area a few years ago.

[NickSMU17]

Doubt it...if anything making sophs live on campus will help the Greek system...more kids will rush knowing they can't get away and more will choose to live in frat house a opposed to dorm. This will keep more people at the blvd Greek tents

[RE Tycoon]

Not that I was ever expecting a significant remodel of the East side of the stadium (added seating or suites), but it appears that will no longer be an option once the commons are built.

I would think that now that SMU owns or will soon own every thing to the east of the stadium that the zoning height restriction on the east side of the stadium will no longer be an issue.

While you think that would be the case in a rational world, NIMBY's (Not In My Backyard) tend to overreach their little corner of the world. I wouldn't be surprised if a resident a mile away complained that the lights disturbed his/her star gazing.

I was also referring to the fact that there will be little to no room* to build out east of the stadium which would be required to support installation of suites, club seats, etc. There are very strict setback rules and fire lane provisions when buildings get close to each other. I would imagine since one building will be housing students, and the other hosting upwards of 40,00 people, the fire department won't be inclined to grant a variance in this case.

*I'm going off the rendering, the distance between the dorm and stadium could be 100+ feet for all I know.

[Water Pony]

As originally conceived, expansion to 45k is straight forward by enclosing the horseshoe at Ford. Raising the east side would be quite expensive, given that the soutn end zone would be much easier and less expensive.

Woudn't it be great, if we regularly needed 35+k and had the capcaity for 45k for big games for Texas/national schools?

[RE Tycoon]

As originally conceived, expansion to 45k is straight forward by enclosing the horseshoe at Ford. Raising the east side would be quite expensive, given that the soutn end zone would be much easier and less expensive.

Woudn't it be great, if we regularly needed 35+k and had the capcaity for 45k for big games for Texas/national schools?

Agreed on expanding to 45k by enclosing the endzone. It would still be nice to have suites on the east side. It would give the stadium a more big league look.

[ponyboy]

And no doubt the suites could be filled.

[PK]

As originally conceived, expansion to 45k is straight forward by enclosing the horseshoe at Ford. Raising the east side would be quite expensive, given that the soutn end zone would be much easier and less expensive.

Wouldn't it be great, if we regularly needed 35+k and had the capacity for 45k for big games for Texas/national schools?

I believe that if we were to be offered a spot in a BCS conference we would have to have at least a 50,000 seat capacity stadium...which is why TCU is expanding their stadium. Expanding the east side with a second level may be expensive, but it can be done and ultimately may have to be done should we be so lucky as to be invited into a BCS conference.

[jtstang]

We'll be sure and dig you up to take you to the games PK.

[RGV Pony]

We'll be sure and dig you up to take you to the games PK.

I'll pass the note along to littlestRGV