“Curbed reports that the Chicago Plan Commission has received a proposal from the University for a dormitory building, previously announced as the Woodlawn Residential Commons, “containing 386,479 gross square feet of floor area to serve as a 1,309 bed undergraduate residence hall, which will include accessory and related uses. The building consists of four residential towers set atop a single-story podium. Three seven-story towers and one 16-story tower are proposed with an overall building height of 184 feet,” the commission agenda reads. (Address: 1150 East 61st Street).”
South 800
North 800
Max P 700
BJ 350
Snitch 120
Wood 1300
Total: approx. 4100
That’s 2/3 of the current student population before I-House and Stony which, if the above numbers are correct, might well end up becoming graduate-only dorms.
I hope so. Graduate students should finally have a couple of dorms that are dedicated to them. However, I-House should be restored to its original objective by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
" The International House contains undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. International House is colloquially known by students as “I-House.” Facing the Midway Plaisance, it was created in 1932 as a gift from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. specifically to foster relationships between students from different countries. It is notable for having housed many famous artists, scientists, and scholars connected with the university, including Langston Hughes and Enrico Fermi. Some 40,000 people have lived there since it first opened its doors. I-House Chicago is a member of International Houses Worldwide."
And the University should get a rich donor to pay up to restore the Breckinridge House. Last time I walked along 59th Street, it was boarded up and empty: what a waste of precious real estate so close to campus.
"Breckinridge Hall is located at 1442 East 59th Street. It accommodated approximately 95 residents plus two RAs and an RH family. There was only one college house in Breckinridge Hall, called Breckinridge House. As one of the smaller dormitories on campus, but one of the largest houses, it is home to undergraduates, though it served graduate students in the past. Approximately two-thirds of the rooms are single residence rooms.
After the 2015-2016 academic year, Breckinridge House was moved to International House while Breckinridge Hall was closed to residents."
Not sure I-House has goals that are consistent with undergraduate housing as that system already makes for an internationally diverse experience. Probably serves the grad students better. What’s the potential capacity? Because if they can use I-House, Breck, and Stony for grad students that might be housing for about 1,000 total. Not bad! They should also look into restoring dining services to I-House and extending those services to the other two dorms. Stony has kitchens but a meal plan of some kind is still helpful.
That’s 2/3 of the current undergraduate population, but remember they’ve been increasing the size of the entering class meaningfully every year. If they stop now, and hold class size to what they accepted last year, in three years the College will have 6,600 students.