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Pelham Hall houses about 80 students in single rooms with communal bathrooms. The University has proposed that Pelham Hall II differ a great deal in design from the existing Pelham Hall. Rather than individual singles, the new building will house students in single rooms within larger suites.
"The concept for the new residence hall will be a hybrid dorm-apartment configuration. There will be four single rooms with a common living area and bath, but kitchens will not be included in the rooms, said Director of Media Relations Tracy Schario.
The University's goal is to build a residence hall that has approximately 300 bed spaces, said Dean of Freshmen Fred Siegel, adding that this shift will increase the number of bed spaces at Mount Vernon by about 200 and thus bring the number of residents living on the Mount Vernon campus up to about 700 students.
"Pelham does not create a great sense of community now; we feel that a new building will create this sense," Siegel said.
He added that the University expects this 200-bed addition to enhance communication between the Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses by creating a more social atmosphere. The University also plans to enhance transportation and dining options for students living at Mount Vernon in conjunction with Pelham Hall's renovation, but the University has not released any specific plans in regards to this matter.
The residence hall's redevelopment is scheduled for completion by fall 2010, but the University said any number of delays could push the completion date back to fall 2011. Other GW building projects include construction of a new residence hall behind the School Without Walls and the development of Square 54, the lot that used to house the old hospital and now remains empty until plans for construction are approved.
"This project has been talked about for more than a year and we have been moving forward with discussions," said Siegel. "With the local communities, the project has been discussed since the fall in a more formal way."
