Construction Begins on New Women`s Dorm at Corban College

Davidson Hall, completed in 2004, has quickly reached its 108-person capacity, so a second new dorm is being built next door.

Corban campus Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - An influx of students living on-campus at Corban College has already filled a 1 1/2-year-old residence hall and precipitated the building of a second structure on the campus of Corban College.

The unnamed new residence hall, designed to house 110 students, will open to students in the fall.

"This fall, we had 448 residents, compared with only 378 residents the year before," said Vice President for Business Chris Erickson. "That meant we were beyond comfortable capacity, and that`s the reason we decided to build a new residence hall."

Construction of the new dorm began March 1st, when R.L. Reimers Co., of Albany poured a large concrete slab and began framing with steel studs. Over spring break, a crane operator set the heavy steel beams that will support the hall`s upper floors.

"It`s basically an indestructible building," Erickson said. "The exterior will be done with stone veneer and Hardi-plank siding. We haven`t picked a color yet, but it will complement the Northwest look of Davidson Hall."

Funding for the $3.5 million residence hall is being raised through a bond offering.

Bond-holders will be paid from the new halls` income over the next 15 years.

Women will live in the new residence hall, and Davidson, now a women`s hall, will begin housing men.

But before men move into Davidson, construction workers will upgrade restrooms and add additional features such as ceiling fans and magnetic doors.

Administrators` plans extend beyond this newest dorm.

When it reaches capacity, a third dorm will join it and Davidson.

Eventually, the trio will stand side-by-side along Warrior Drive on the hillside between the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center and the Academic Center.

Other Corban campus housing consists of Prewitt/Van Gilder, Aagard and Faraar halls as well as cottages and townhouses for upperclassmen.

"We have a 15-year (2020) plan, and it`s broken down into five-year segments," Hunt said. "We hope to have 1,100 students by 2010, and we plan to add housing as our growth requires."