Before the ground freezes next winter, Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman hopes "visible signs [of progress] such as a hole in the ground" will be made on the construction of the new Tuck Mall dormitory.
Though the dorm isn't slated to open until the 2003-2004 academic year, a newly formed committee will help design what will be the College's newest -- and perhaps fanciest -- dormitory.
The committee, which will consist of Redman, ORL staff and approximately 12 students, is expected to meet through the end of Fall term to advise architects.
Redman said the project is still too new for him to say whether it will resemble McCulloch, which was designed by the same architectural firm, Atkin, Lawson, Olson-Bell, that is overseeing the Tuck dorm construction.
Blueprints do not yet exist for the building and once they are proposed, the committee will provide feedback on the floor plans, Redman said.
Redman described student input into the design of the dorm's interior as "very important."
Students will contribute ideas regarding bathroom arrangements, the placement of lounges, carpet, lighting and how the building will look, but will play a significantly lesser role in the exterior design of the building. But, said Redman said, "assuming we can incorporate exterior play spaces such as porches, patios, grass and so on students will have input in that area."
The capacity of the dorm will depend on two unknown factors, the final building footprint and height, Redman said.
The first new dorm built on the Tuck Mall may provide a model for future dorms, although Redman said the College will not build several identical buildings but "all might incorporate similar relationships of one internal space to another."
