NMSU to break ground on new dormitory April 27
New Mexico State University will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $21.5 million residence hall for students at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 27, at the site of the old Monagle Hall near NMSU’s Corbett Center.
“The 300-bed facility will be built on a portion of the land under the 550-bed Monagle Hall, which was demolished last year,” said Heather Watenpaugh, NMSU’s university architect and campus planning officer.
The new residence hall will cater to NMSU freshmen, who are now required to live on campus their first year at the university.
“Having freshmen live on campus in the new facility is expected to promote NMSU’s goals for improving student retention rates,” said Glen Haubold, NMSU associate vice president for facilities and services. “We expect the new facility will help students succeed academically by boosting their engagement in campus life.”
The building will feature semi-suite or shared rooms with a common bathroom, a laundry and a courtyard with the Spanish Renaissance Revival design of other NMSU structures such as the Rhodes-Garrett-Hamiel Hall.
“We’re trying to repeat that style with our new buildings, creating a kind of branding and cohesive feel for the entire campus,” says Watenpaugh. “The three-story facility will have student spaces on each floor and a kitchen on the third floor that can be used for either teaching or entertainment.”
The plan is to host university courses in a multi-purpose classroom that will be part of the 76,000 square-foot facility. The space could be divided into two rooms. The partitions could be removed for activities that require more space.
The residence hall is expected to take approximately a year to complete, in time for students to move in by the fall 2019 semester.
Revenue bonds issued by NMSU will fund the project. The bonds will be repaid using the money paid by students who live in the building.
