We’ve all seen the new dorms protruding on the southeast side of campus. But do you know the details?
The dorms are part of a $134.5 million initiative, which create a Residential Commons (RC) for students and faculty. Construction started in 2012 and will terminate in Summer 2014. The RC will house student leaders, as well as live-in faculty and staff members. SMU hopes the RC will provide a platform for students to engage in opportunities with faculty outside of the classroom, according to their website.
The RC also brings a new requirement for SMU students as. Beginning with the Fall 2014 class, students will be required to live on campus for a minimum of two years. Incoming students will be randomly assigned to an RC and will live there both required years. Unlike other dorms on campus, specific RCs cannot be requested.
Here’s a breakdown by numbers of what’s new:
5 buildings
1,250 beds
1 dining commons
800 parking spaces
Take a virtual tour of the new RC here: http://www.smu.edu/residentialcommons