A pretty big project out of WMU is moving forward. The University has announced plans to replace all of the first-year student dormitories in
'The Valley Neighborhood' with new dorms. The area is presently comprised of three large complexes, known as Valley I, Valley II, and Valley III. Each of these complexes currently houses approximately 1,000 students, with four connected halls per complex (12 halls total).
The dorms were built in the 1960s, and are pretty typical of that time (and quite sparse by today's standards), consisting of small suites where two student rooms share a connecting bathroom. The below video tour of Ackley / Shilling Halls gives a sense of the typical feel of these dorms:
• Video Link
The new dorms might be expected to resemble something similar to the recently completed Western Heights Residence Halls (also designed for first-year students). The rooms themselves are quite small, with more money and design being put into shared collaboration and activity spaces:
• Video Link
CannonDesign is leading the design of the new dormitories, and the first of three public forums was recently held on campus on 9/14/17 to gather input form students and faculty / staff. Valley III, consisting of Fox, Eldridge, Harrison, and Stinson Halls will be the first to go, with demolition starting in early 2018 and completion expected by Fall 2020. Using the figures in the MLive article, this project might cost somewhere round $165 Million in total (assuming 3,000 student beds x $55,000 per bed).
Campus Map:
Valley Neighborhood Detail:
Base image source:
WMU Campus Maps
Aerial view of the Valley Neighborhood, in all of its 1960s splendor. The cleared area is where the new Valley Dining Center now stands:
Image Source:
Google Maps
Existing Valley Dorm Photo:
Image Source:
MLive