Students, faculty, staff and the general public are invited to join in the groundbreaking ceremony for UT Dallas’ very first freshman living learning residence hall and new dining facility at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16.

The event will be at the construction site on Rutford Avenue, just west of the Arts and Technology (ATEC) Building (campus map). A reception will follow.

Special guests expected at the event include UT System Regent Printice L. Gary and Richardson Mayor Steve Mitchell.

“This groundbreaking kicks off a new era in housing at UT Dallas,” said Matt Grief, director of housing operations at the University. “I’m thrilled to be associated with a new building that most others in my position might never experience during their tenure. I hope this new style of living will promote involvement and spirit on campus for our students for many years to come.”

The new residence hall will offer living learning environments, which group students with similar interests and majors. The 400-bed, 148,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is expected to house students by fall 2009.

The hall will include large amounts of open, communal space, and each floor will feature open-air study rooms.

The building will include a mix of three-bedroom, single-bath suites and one-bedroom, one-bath units for peer advisers. The furnished suites will feature a shared entry. Living areas will have built-in counters and a place for students to place a small refrigerator. There also will be a shared bathroom with a private shower, private toilet and a vanity with sinks.

The design complements the apartment living option already available at the University.

Students living in the new residence hall will be required to have University meal plans. The new, 28,000-square-foot dining hall — expected to be completed in summer 2009 — will have space for students, faculty and staff to mingle, relax and dine. Features will include a waffle bar, cooking and beverage stations, potato and dessert bars and full meal options.

The dining facility will be open seven days a week. In addition to the optional meal plan, patrons not living in the residence hall will be able to purchase meals for a single sitting.

The building will provide seating for more than 400 students.

The residence hall design committee included student Bradley Wallace, a senior majoring in computer science; Dr. Darrelene Rachavong, vice president for student affairs; Mr. Grief and; Rick Dempsey, assistant vice president for business affairs.

Anyone wishing to attend the event should RSVP to presrsvp@utdallas.edu or call 972-883-6257.

Media contact: Jenni Huffenberger, UT Dallas, jennib@utdallas.edu, 972-883-4431
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, newscenter@utdallas.edu


The 400-bed residential hall will include large amounts of communal space and open-air study rooms on each floor.