Construction on the new Lennox and Addington residence at Carleton will not be fully completed when students move in Sept. 5, according to a press release from the university.
It’s now anticipated the building will be finished by Oct. 28.
All students who have been promised spaces in the building will be accommodated, said David Sterritt, Carleton’s director of housing and conference services.
According to Rideau River Residence Association president Kaisha Thompson, students will move onto floors two through six, which will be completed and fully furnished for Sept. 5. To accommodate all residents, those who were promised a single room will be placed with a roommate until the other floors are available.
Sterritt said the remaining construction will involve carpeting and painting the hallways on floors two to six, and completion of the unfinished floors. The exterior of the building will also be bricked and landscaped. Construction will begin at 7 a.m. daily.
Thompson said the delays are frustrating.
“I think it’s really disappointing that it’s taking over a year,” she said. “[The construction] impacted students that lived in [Glengarry House and Renfrew House] last year . . . and even though they started early, it still hasn’t been completed. I think that’s unfortunate.”
Director of university communications Jason MacDonald said in an email that “less than ideal site conditions” are the reasons for the delay, adding that excessive rainfall was also a factor.
In addition to dealing with early morning noise, Sterritt said students will not have tunnel access or laundry facilities until the first floor is completed. Students will have to go to neighbouring residences to do laundry.
Thompson said that the impact on students will be minimal. Both the single and double rooms in the building have the capacity for two occupants. Students will have access to one of the elevators, as well as a common room on each floor. She said that tunnel and laundry access are the most noticeable difficulties, and hopes the noise from construction will not be too disruptive.
An important difference from past housing issues, Thompson said, is compensation for residents. Housing confirmed they will give each resident in Lennox and Addington $265 per month for their trouble, until construction is completed. This amounts to almost half of what they would originally be paying that month.
Overall, Thompson said that difficulties for residents are minor.
“Most students . . . are really excited about living in Lennox and Addington because it’s the newest building. Despite the construction, they would rather have a brand new room and no hallway [than live in a different residence].”
Thompson said some students who have requested single rooms are concerned about living with a roommate and the lack of privacy. However, Thompson said she doesn’t expect it to be a major issue, and said it will be for a short period in the beginning of the year when residents are getting to know one another.
Housing and conference services said they will move students onto the upper floors as soon as they’re completed, and will hire a moving company to do all the heavy lifting.
Despite her disappointment, Thompson said she recognizes that housing is doing more for Lennox and Addington residents than they ever have, and that all students will be accommodated with limited difficulties and disruptions.
“It could be a lot worse,” she said. “And thankfully, it’s not.”
