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Addition will bring 80 beds to Pima Hall

Pima House Residence Hall will have 80 more beds by August, creating much-needed space for on-campus housing in a short amount of time, said James Van Arsdel, UA Director of Residence Life.

"This will set a record for speed - at least, if it doesn't, it will be close," Van Arsdel said.

He said he anticipates groundbreaking to begin Dec. 1, four months after plans began for Pima's expansion. The addition should be completed by August.

"It will be an aggressive schedule," Van Arsdel said, adding that the project, which would normally take about nine months to complete, would need to be done in eight.

At a cost of about $3.7 million - which Van Arsdel said will be absorbed by all dorm residents and not affect rates - the construction of the three-story annex will more than double Pima's capacity. Fifty-seven women currently live in the hall. Pima, 1340 E. First St., was changed from the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house to a residence hall last fall.

The unique design of the addition will make it an independent, adjacent building, accessed through the courtyard. However, the 40 suite-style double rooms and adobe exterior will be nearly identical to those of the original house.

Van Arsdel said Residence Life is considering the possibility of making Pima co-ed when the addition is complete.

While Residence Life wants to complete the extension before the next academic year, students said they aren't happy with the disruption while class is in session.

"A lot of students here are really upset because it's going to be during the school year," said resident Shazia Malik, a journalism freshman. "People are worried about the noise. Everyone's kind of bummed."

The addition will be built over what is now a metered parking lot and will temporarily create noise for residents. Van Arsdel said besides new beds, the addition will give Pima an easily accessible entrance from East First Street.

"I don't think anyone wants the kind of disruption created by the construction, but it goes quickly and the result is a really important one for all of us," he said.

Jessica Harrison, an undeclared freshman living in Pima, agreed.

"Looking at it, it's a good idea to add on," she said. "At the same time, getting to that point is just gonna suck."

Van Arsdel said the decision not to create a larger expansion was an effort to keep Pima consistent with the scale of the neighborhood, which features several greek chapter houses.

He also said Pima is popular with students because of the intimate atmosphere as well as a greater feeling of solitude and privacy that residents enjoy.

Van Arsdel said Pima would likely gain popularity once the construction is complete.

"It's really going to be an attractive place," Van Arsdel said.

Harrison said despite the construction she'd be glad to return to Pima.

"But I love this dorm - it's great here," she said.

Despite the amount of construction on campus, Van Arsdel said the high volume of development is not keeping away potential dorm dwellers, and he does not expect it to in coming years. The numbers of housing applications University of Arizona Residence Life has already received is following the current trend of year-to-year increases.

To accommodate future students, plans for an apartment complex located north of Coronado Residence Hall could be drawn up this spring, with construction possibly beginning as early as next summer.

Residence Life officials are also brainstorming designs for two large new dorms near La Paz Residence Hall. They are tentatively expected to house 700 students by fall 2002.