I was reading the thread from last summer about the implications of the new residential building. Does anybody know if it will be open by the fall quarter in September? Any more updates on the possible relocation of existing dorms and houses?
I walked by Woodlawn Residential Commons (WRC) quite a few times in late February and early March before the Illinois shelter in place order was mandated by the governor. It looks like it should be ready by September and the University pretty much assumes that WRC will open its door for Class of 2024.
Here are a few pictures from the construction company that builds WRC:
These pictures were taken in early February. I drove by Midway Plaisance in mid March and I was surprised construction crews were still working at the Rubenstein Forum next door. Apparently construction is still deemed as essential under the shelter at home rule in Illinois. I have to assume that construction continues at WRC right now but most of the work is likely interior furnishing as the exterior construction seems to be 90% completed.
Most current information available:
Most if not all of the houses in WRC have been created but no announcement has been made over and above the seven or so that they announced last year. The houses in WRC are paired to 37 of the 39 existing houses elsewhere on campus so that returning students interested in moving over to WRC can maintain a connection to their current house. The two excluded houses are Stony and Vue53 so we can be pretty sure they are going to be retired.
"Woodlawn Residential Commons Sibling Lottery
For students who wish to select a room within our newest residence hall, Woodlawn Residential Commons. Each existing House has been thoughtfully linked by Housing & Residence Life with one of the new Houses of Woodlawn Residential Commons. In doing so, our hope is to create connection between these communities in the inaugural opening of this residence hall."
https://housing.uchicago.edu/current-residents/assignments/ (scroll down to Room Selection)
The lotteries for continuing students will be conducted in the following order: 1. House, 2. WRC Sibling, 3. Hall, 4. General. Those lotteries were scheduled for various dates in May but not sure what’s happening at this point.
New incoming first years will be assigned “randomly” this year, is my understanding. I think that means dorm preference will no longer be requested on the housing application. However, room preference (ie single vs. double) might still be. Best to check the housing portal when it’s available, or someone with more knowledge will hopefully chime in. Have no idea whether WRC will be open to first years; a lot will depend on the results of the continuing student housing lotteries. Due to the new residency requirement, all current first years will be returning to the res. halls in the fall. That’s a switch from prior years, when at least some of them would move off campus. So right away at least a portion of the additional capacity from WRC will be used up by a higher-than-historical number of returning students. There were rumors that I-House wasn’t going to be closed, but not sure if those are accurate or not. However, - and this is just a guess here - it probably doesn’t make sense to shut down any more existing houses and/or close I-House unless and until they understand what housing capacity looks like in 2020/21 and beyond.
Thanks for the helpful responses. I ask because my son was admitted RD. This has been a pleasant shock that we did not anticipate.
@River65 Congratulations to your son. We hope he will decide to matriculate here.
This is a fairly new video put out by Housing & Residence Life about Houses.
My son doesn’t post here but he has decided to enroll for the fall. This was a real positive surprise to be admitted in the RD round. I have enjoyed reading all the U Chicago threads. Thank you everyone.