The Butler University Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a town hall on October 29th to reveal plans for a multi-use parking garage and new residence hall. The turnout exceeded SGA’s expectations with over 120 students in attendance. Students were able to voice questions or comments to administrators involved in the plan including Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Levester Johnson, Vice President for Marketing and Communications, Matt Mindrum, and Jason Wills, Senior Vice President of Development for American Campus Communities. The town hall addressed that although current students may not receive all of the benefits of these new facilities immediately, the value of their degree will be increasing as the university continues to improve. This situation is similar to when the Health and Recreation Complex and the Apartment Village were opened for students in 2006.

The parking structure will have over 1,000 parking spaces and is being built to accommodate commuters, faculty as well as serve for event parking. There will also be 15,000 to 16,000 ft. of retail space on the main floor of the parking structure. Businesses that are interested in locating in this space include drug stores, full service restaurants and retail stores. Administration is working with SGA’s Council on Presidential Affairs (CPA) to gain student input on what retailers would be most beneficial in the space.

Questions that students had during the town hall included whether a potential drug store would provide experiential learning opportunities for pharmacy students. Mindrum commented saying that College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences leadership has been engaged in these discussions and that potential operators were open to such a partnership.

Wills showed students the blue print for the new residence hall and showcased its amenities. This includes an outdoor patio, recreation room, media lounge, as well as a cardio fitness center. The dorms will be in pod style rooms with a common area including a small kitchenette, living room and small public closet. The new residence hall will hold 632 students and is planning to accommodate sophomores and some juniors. Wills said that the university plans to break ground in March and it is estimated the residence hall will be completed by August of 2016.

Wills also addressed student’s questions such as the estimated cost of living, which will be a premium to the ResCo living rate. Other concerns that were addressed included student’s desires for the option of co-ed living spaces. Like the Apartment Village, the new residence hall will have some co-ed style pods in order to accommodate students.

Comments, concerns or ideas from students about the parking structure or new residence hall can be directed to the Council on Presidential Affairs (CPA) at cpa@butler.edu.

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