UHDS Admin

University Housing Master Plan

Read the October 2011 Housing Master Plan Update

In October 2008, University Housing and Dining Services has facilitated discussions with a group of campus constituents who have reviewed the future of WIU's residential program. Specifically, we have targeted our aging facilities and how they meet the needs of students and the academic mission of the University.

A 10-year plan has been developed based on the objectives of significantly reducing deferred maintenance and providing on-campus housing that meets the needs of today's student. While it is a 10-year plan, it will be evaluated annually by UHDS personnel.

 

Recommendation Factors

  1. Current outlook for admissions trends and occupancy projections.
    • Our occupancy continues to decrease because of off-campus housing expansion and the recent decline in transfer admissions as well as the overall WIU retention rate.
    • It is expected that this trend will continue given the projected decline in high school class sizes through 2015.
  2. Results of the Facilities Condition Assessments from Wolpert.
    • This shows a $50 million deferred maintenance liability for the residence halls and on-campus apartments.
  3. Excess capacity of bed space due to nearly 50% of all residence hall rooms being sold as singles (private).
  4. Requirement that first-year students live together in order to support the FYE Program.
  5. Desire to operate a high quality housing program that offers excellent facilities in which our students can engage in learning to achieve academic success.

Recommendations

The following are recommendations to address our current facilities needs while taking into consideration student needs and the residence life program. looking forward, it is not likely feasible to renovate all of our facilities to “like-new” condition so we must concentrate our efforts in specific areas to reduce the deferred maintenance liability and to increase student satisfaction. The recommendations made here are intended to be implemented in 5 years (Phase I). The plan will need to be adjusted as we move forward based on financial implications, occupancy need and construction time lines.


Wetzel Hall Off-line

The committee recommends that the University close Wetzel Hall by the fall semester 2009.

Rationale:

  • The Facilities Condition assessment (FCa) results showed that to bring Wetzel back to a “like-new” facility it would take approximately $26 million.
  • It is a building with lower occupancy, housing approximately 450 students. By taking this smaller hall off- line first, it continues to offer flexibility of space yet allows for needed reductions in occupancy. Based on current bed space in other buildings, all students currently residing in Wetzel Hall can be accommodated elsewhere.
  • It is estimated that an estimated $725,000 in operating costs may be avoided.

Corbin and Olson Hall Renovation

The committee recommends a significant renovation of the Corbin and Olson Complex. This would include a renovation to the dining center, HVaC, plumbing, lighting and furniture upgrades to both residential buildings. The project should also address security and access control, upgrading common areas and the Fine arts living learning communities, the reintroduction of an international floor, and many other programmatic initiatives. This renovation is expected to be funded through a bond issue. It is recommended that the programming study begin during

the fall of 2008. Corbin Hall and dining center construction would begin in the summer of 2010, and Olson Hall construction, in the summer of 2011. This entire project would be completed by the fall of 2012.


Higgins Hall Off-line

The committee recommends that Higgins Hall be closed by the fall of 2012

Rationale:

  • The FCA results showed that to bring Higgins to a “like-new” facility it would cost approximately $48 million – the largest of all buildings.
  • It is estimated that an estimated $1 million in operating costs may be avoided.
  • Given anticipated occupancy levels, all students residing in Higgins Hall would be accommodated by reassigning to other buildings or reducing the number of single rooms on campus..

Lamoine Village Off-line

The committee recommends that the lamoine Village Apartment Complex be closed by the fall semester 2012.

  • The FCa results showed that to bring lamoine Village to a “like-new” facility it would cost approximately $13.5 million.
  • Lamoine Village provides housing to families, single graduate students, and nontraditional students. UHDS attempts to provide this housing at a very reasonable and competitive rate with other units in town. To complete a renovation of this facility, monthly rental charges to residents would need to be doubled to recover the cost of the project. This would make these apartments cost prohibitive for residents and less competitive in the local marketplace.

Phase One: 5-year timeline


Fall 2008 – Summer 2009

Potential occupancy in residence halls is 4,850 and 299 apartments.
Expected occupancy in residence halls is 4,400 and 299 apartments.

  • There is an occupancy reduction because of the 2008 freshman and 2007 & 2008 transfer/freshmen class sizes. This reduction has forced the closure of 4 floors in Wetzel and 3 floors in Tanner Hall.
  • Begin programming study for the Corbin/Olson renovation - In Progress
  • Announce that Wetzel Hall will be taken off-line beginning fall 2009 - Completed
  • Move Casa latina staff to the Multicultural Center - Completed Install sprinklers in Tanner Hall - Completed
  • Modernized 4 elevator cars in Tanner Hall - Completed
  • Design and install access control systems for Lincoln and Washington Halls - In Progress
  • Renovate the South Quad Dining Center dock and entrances - In Design

Fall 2009 - Summer 2010

Potential occupancy in residence halls is 4,850 (with 24% singles) and 299 apartments.
Expected occupancy in residence halls is 4,350 and 299 apartments.

  • Take Wetzel Hall off-line - Completed
  • Tanner Hall changes from an upper-classman community to a First Year Experience (FYE) community - Completed
  • Reduce single rooms and increase double rooms in Bayliss, Henninger
  • Design and install access control systems for Bayliss, Henninger and Tanner Halls

Fall 2010 – Summer 2011

Potential occupancy in residence halls is 4,850 (with 24% singles) and 299 apartments.
Expected occupancy in residence halls is 4,300 and 299 apartments.

  • Move from Olson Hall the Counseling Center, academic advising, and Illinois law enforcement Training and Standards Board Executive Institute to Memorial Hall and other buildings
  • Renovation of Washington Hall to include the removal of fixed furniture and minor electric upgrades (summer 2011)

Fall 2011 – Summer 2012

Potential occupancy in residence halls is 4,950 (with 21% singles) and 299 apartments.
Expected occupancy in residence halls is 4,300 and 299 apartments.

  • Temporarily take Corbin Hall off-line for renovations (1 year)
  • Temporarily take Corbin/Olson Dining Center off-line for renovations (1 year)
  • Renovation of Lincoln Hall to include the removal of fixed furniture and minor electric upgrades (summer 2012)
  • Temporarily take Olson Hall off-line for renovations (1 year)
  • Renovation of Lincoln Hall to include bathroom reconfiguration and new plumbing (summer 2012)

Fall 2012 – Summer 2013

Potential occupancy in residence halls is 4,600 (with 15% singles) and 67 apartments.
Expected occupancy in residence halls is 4,300 and 67 apartments.

  • Take Higgins Hall off-line
  • Take lamoine Village off-line
  • Renovation of Tanner Hall to include the removal of fixed furniture and minor electric upgrades (summer 2013)

 

Phase Two: 5-year timeline


Projects 2013 and Beyond
  • Renovation of Bayliss Hall to include bathroom reconfiguration & new plumbing
  • Renovation of Henninger Hall to include bathroom reconfiguration & new plumbing
  • Renovation of the Thompson 18th Floor and lobby
  • Begin programming study for new on-campus housing construction options