Crews playing catch up to build sorority house

Leigh-Anne Brown Arizona Daily Wildcat Construction of the Chi Omega sorority house has been plagued by bad weather and permit delays that may push the project past the scheduled July 15 completion date.

Richard Marsh, Facilities Design and Construction project manager, said Wednesday that construction of the new Chi Omega house, on First Street just east of Highland Avenue, is falling behind the project's proposed July 15 completion schedule.

Attributing the delays to rainy weather and difficulty obtaining the necessary permits, Marsh said, "We're throwing some overtime at it to bring it back on schedule."

In early December the Arizona Board of Regents approved the project, which includes relocating the sorority from its current location at 1145 N. Mountain Ave. to the new on-campus site.

The old Chi Omega house - a 36-year-old red brick, white-columned, plantation-style structure adjacent to the James E. Rogers Law Center - will be renovated and used for law clinics and book storage, law Dean Joel Seligman said.

Seligman said the project's $2.5 million cost will be covered entirely by private donations to the Law College.

Panhellenic Association president Jennifer Cox said she noticed the crews have been working into the evening hours lately.

"It's coming along really fast," said Cox, a Spanish studies senior.

Interfraternity Council Community Service Chairman Nathan Bowlin speculated that one reason the new house is going up so fast is that the Law College is anxious to begin renovations on the old house.

"The university definitely has some self-interest in it," the political science sophomore said.

UA's Chi Omega chapter president Marie Des Rosiers agreed.

"The College of Law wants our building," she said. "They need it."

Des Rosiers described the project as a win-win situation for both the sorority and the college.

The new Chi Omega house will be closer to classrooms and facilities, and will provide proper access for one current sorority member who has a disability preventing her from living in the old house, Des Rosiers said.

As for the antebellum Southern architecture - a trademark of Chi Omega houses nationwide - Marsh said the designers have tried to replicate it as best as they can within budget limitations.

"It will be a fairly close rendition of the Mountain Avenue house," he said.

Seligman said the renovated sorority house will make law students' lives much easier.

He said the semi-historic building's first floor will be used to house four law clinics - child advocacy, domestic dispute, immigration and tribal law.

Students currently have to commute from classes in the law center to these clinics, some of which are on the other side of campus.

"It will be of incredible value to our students, as these clinics are now spread all over," Seligman said.

He said he hopes to begin the renovation as soon as early August, in order to have the new law building ready for spring 1999 classes.

Des Rosiers said although she is excited about her new home, she will have to stop by the old one for a visit now and again.

"We'll miss our house," she said. "It's a great house."