Pepperdine plans to make big changes over the next several years that aim to provide students with a higher quality of on-campus living update athletic facilities and increase the school’s aesthetic appeal.
The Campus Life Project will tackle housing rehabilitation by renovating refurbishing or replacing existing student living facilities. While the project is managed by the office of Construction and Campus Planning departments and stakeholders across the university community weigh in on the decision-making process. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2011.
The project is intended to serve the needs of existing students rather than allow for increased enrollment. The changes are designed to aid in Pepperdine’s education of the “whole” student both inside and outside of the classroom.
“Besides the need to replace aging halls we also want to enhance community by providing more students the opportunity to live on campus in spaces that are comfortable and encourage interaction with each other Dean of Student Affairs Mark Davis wrote in an e-mail.
A primary aspect of the plan is the revamping of the original residence halls, which are 36 years old, on average. The housing rehabilitation will create 450 additional student beds, several recreation and community centers and general infrastructure improvements.
The freshman halls will be completely restructured, with lobbies enlarged, study rooms and kitchenettes added and capacity increased from 50 to 70. The plan includes a boardwalk between upper and lower dorm roads that will connect to each residence hall by way of stairs. Four community centers, with a multi-purpose room, laundry facility and Resident Director’s office, will be built along the boardwalk.
While the 16 standard precinct” freshman residence halls along upper and lower dorm road will be refurbished and renovated the “outer precinct” halls (Phi through Upsilon) will be torn down to make way for a new 420-student-capacity residence hall outfitted to encourage upperclassmen to remain on campus.
“This will help with the housing shortage and create a smoother transition back to campus for those who attend international programs Davis wrote. The new hall will combine the best features of the freshman halls and Towers.”
Davis noted the role of the Housing and Residence Life office in providing input toward the project’s development based on interaction with students. HRL advocated for additional beds residence hall study rooms kitchenettes and even rooftop decks.
“Since HRL has noticed over the years that students like to climb on the roof they advocated for a ‘if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em’ strategy and added roof decks to the design Davis said.
Many students who live on campus are pleased with their residence halls, but have suggestions for improvement.
I would say I am satisfied with my dorm said freshman Ruairi Rooney. I live in J. Pengilly Hall which is close to the HAWC and somewhat centrally located. If I could change anything about the dorms I would improve the sound proofing. The walls are paper thin and my room isn’t the ideal studying environment as a result.”
Some students’ suggestions focus on better utilizing the dorms to encourage a sense of community.
“It would be nice if there was something like a ping pong table a foosball table or a TV in the main lobbies Tom Steck, a junior Shafer Hall resident, said, I think the idea of having that common space is good for community, but it seems like those places never get used.
The benefits will not be limited only to campus-dwelling students. The university’s multiyear plan also proposes a solution to the oft reported parking problem: an addition of 681 parking spaces by way of new parking structures and underground parking.
Another component of the Campus Life Project is the proposed construction of an athletics/events center on the existing Rho parking lot to replace the Firestone Fieldhouse which was built in 1973. Also as part of an initiative to support athletics the project includes an upgraded NCAA soccer field and improved recreation area.
The campus additions also include an expansive park like town-square area situated in the existing Seaver main parking lot for student recreation and outside lecture space.
The university sees the need to keep its campus up-to-date.
“Many of the building’s components systems and utility infrastructure will eventually approach the ends of their useful lives Wilbur Faulk, director of Construction and Campus Planning, wrote in an e-mail. The cost of maintaining these facilities is rising because of this and opportunities are available to significantly improve energy efficiency and sustainability so a thorough renovation is ultimately warranted.”
While this project’s completion waits years down the road the university is taking small steps to improve campus living in the meantime. This past summer the safety and security of dorms and residences was upgraded. HRL is currently making plans to upgrade lobby televisions improve the HAWC and continue to refurbish Lovernich.
Still in the planning and permitting stage the university must wait several years to begin making the Campus Life Project a reality. After approval is obtained the university will begin construction based on fundraising and
university needs.
