If all goes according to plan the construction of a new student residence will be completed in August 2011, providing increased on-campus housing starting in the 2011-12 academic year.
The plans were given the green light by Carleton's board of governors early last year. However they remained tentative until late spring 2009, said Darryl Boyce, assistant vice president (faculties management and planning).
Construction is set to begin May 1, 2010 on the vacant lot between Glengarry House and Renfrew House.
The building will be similar in height to Glengarry House with 10 floors and will offer a total of 434 traditional-style rooms, according to director of housing and conference services Dave Sterritt.
The new residence will not be connected to Residence Common, Boyce said.
The demand has not diminished even though the construction of Frontenac House, which opened in 2008, providing an additional 400 students with on-campus housing.
“It’s being designed and constructed essentially to meet the requirements that are expressed by first- and second-year students,” Sterritt said.
Due to current residence service adjustments, student services should not be negatively affected by the change, Sterritt said.
He said the building “will require that there be additional seating space in the residence dining halls.” However, he said there is a similar construction plan in the works which will see the expansion of residence student services such as cafeteria services.
No name has yet been approved for the building.
The costs of both building and operating the new residence will be paid through debt financing, said Duncan Watt, vice-president (finance and administration).
“The money people pay to stay in the residence pays the cost of building and operating the residence complex.”
He said the money will be paid back through student rent over the course of 25 years.
While residence fees were adjusted during the construction of Frontenac House, no such adjustments will be made during the 2010-11 year, Watt said.
He said fees were adjusted before because the university had not adequately informed people of the effects of the construction.
“We should have told them what they’re getting themselves into.”
Watt said he believes they have done a better job this time telling students about the construction.
“It’s a decision people who elect to live in residence next year will have to make.”
Christopher Infantry, president of the Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA), said he disagrees.
“The students next year should not have to pay the same amount as the students this year considering they will be forced to deal with excessive noise, dust, etc. created by the site,” he said.
Infantry said residence is already more expensive than off-campus housing specifically because it is both convenient and supportive for new students.
“The university should not run like a business and the administration should not act as landlords that do not care about the well-being of their tenants, as long as they make money,” he said.
Despite construction inconveniences, Infantry said the increase in student fees will mean an increase in residence services and possibly more student jobs.