Residence Halls & apartments

[vu72]

Definitely an upgrade.  Hope the next new dorm (down from G/M (?) will follow this style as well.

That's the plan.  If you look at the Master Plan, all dorms either new or remodeled will have this more classic look.

[78crusader]

I agree that the dorm could have more interesting features.  However, the building cost $28 million, so I'm not sure that the university is "skimping" on this dorm. 

Paul

[okinawatyphoon]

Where will students who live in this dorm park their cars? There doesn't seem to be any additional parking in that area to accommodate the increase in students. Is the plan to just encourage the use of the parking garage?

[vu72]

Where will students who live in this dorm park their cars? There doesn't seem to be any additional parking in that area to accommodate the increase in students. Is the plan to just encourage the use of the parking garage?

Good question.  My guess (just that) is that the new parking garage attached to the union may be coming sooner than later.

[okinawatyphoon]

Here's a recent aerial view of the new dorm to give you an idea of how it fits in campus. Courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Blog.

[valpopal]

Definitely an upgrade.  Hope the next new dorm (down from G/M (?) will follow this style as well.

That's the plan.  If you look at the Master Plan, all dorms either new or remodeled will have this more classic look.

Latest rumor circulating is that a new dorm to house the sororities will be located on Union Street in the lot across from the Victory Bell west of the ARC and Scheele will be remodeled as a general residence hall for incoming students.

[vu72]

Definitely an upgrade.  Hope the next new dorm (down from G/M (?) will follow this style as well.

That's the plan.  If you look at the Master Plan, all dorms either new or remodeled will have this more classic look.

Latest rumor circulating is that a new dorm to house the sororities will be located on Union Street in the lot across from the Victory Bell west of the ARC and Scheele will be remodeled as a general residence hall for incoming students.

That makes sense, location wise, as the Master Plan calls for new Greek housing adjacent to it on Union Street.

[setshot]

Is 704 Union still standing? Hell, I lived there 60 years ago and it was already showing some wear and tear. Gut it!

[vu72]

Is 704 Union still standing? Hell, I lived there 60 years ago and it was already showing some wear and tear. Gut it!

If you are talkng about the OX house, yes, to my knowledge, although abandoned when they were kicked off campus, it still stands.

[historyman]

704 Union is near the corner of Greenwich and Union west of the ARC and south of Union St. There is now an intramural field in that lot. You can tell by the soccer goal that sits near Union St.

EDIT: For the "older" alumni you might remember the old Greek's Pizza location which later became Maria Elena's/Gabriella's and is now closed. It was across Greenwich from the lot where 704 Union stood which is now an intramural field.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=704+Union+Street,+Valparaiso,+IN&hl=en&ll=41.463497,-87.051997&spn=0.001264,0.00247&sll=41.475425,-87.053415&sspn=0.080385,0.1581&oq=704+Union&t=h&hnear=704+Union+St,+Valparaiso,+Indiana+46383&z=19

[a3uge]

Word on the street was that they were ready to build 2-3 buildings for Greek life by 2015 and they would hold a lottery for rights to buy the new property. I know SigEp, PhiPsi and Sig Chi are all itching for new housing and would probably be able to make a significant down payment on a new facility. The Sororities want a new home too because theyre still in a crappy freshman dorm as sophomores and juniors.

The long term planning at Valpo is really poor - the university makes promises each year and some of the fraternities have the cash or can easily raise the cash for a down payment. Plans change or never happen and the houses on Mound keep getting older and older. Hell, we had a chimney guy come when I was house manager at SigEp tell us that our house could be condemned if we used the fireplace anymore.

[a3uge]

Here's a map I made last year, you can see where the greek housing will go...

http://www.scribblemaps.com/maps/view/ValpoMasterPlan
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:%2F%2Fwww.scribblemaps.com%2Fgetkml.aspx%3Fid%3DValpoMasterPlan%26g%3DB285EEE&ll=41.463827,-87.044206&spn=0.011063,0.024762&t=h&z=16

and here's the master plan:

[setshot]

HISTORYMAN: My Booboo. I meant 804 Union,the old OX house. "72 got it right. Thanks! Here's to dear old Theta Chi.

[historyman]

Ok, yes that frat house still sits just east of the 5 way intersection of Union, Linwood & Greenwich.

[historyman]

I took these photos on Monday. The fence is down and the finishing touches are being done to the inside of Beacon Hall. Some of the tree planting has been done and the landscapers said they will be working about another 2 weeks to finish the outside area. There is a circular drive that faces Scheele Hall with a funny tree in the middle of the circle. I'm afraid my picture of it didn't turn out well.

[okinawatyphoon]

Thank you for posting those pictures, historyman! The building is a bit bland but a vast improvement over the older dorms in that area.

[valpotx]

Looks cool to me!

[valporun]

Why do dorm buildings have to look great from the outside? Don't the students live inside the dorm, not on the outside of it, right? I'm sure it will look a lot nicer once all the interior is taken care of, plus having sod down and whatever else they are waiting to put in there for the upcoming school year.

[valpopal]

I don't get to campus often during summer, but I was there today and checked out Beacon Hall. The exterior seems complete and looks very good since the grass is filling and flowers are growing. In fact, as you get closer there are a lot of quality details that are noticeable, such as the stone crests embedded in the brickwork that display the torch symbol with words etched across it, including "Excellence" or "Service."

The front door was open, and though I wasn't supposed to do so, I walked inside to check out the lobby of the main floor, which was fully furnished and resembled a hotel. (There were workers bringing a truckload of furniture to the upper floors through a back entrance.)  Inside, the details are also impressive. There are marble floors as in the Harre Union, and there is a lot of rich-looking woodwork finish, especially up the main stairway and along the interior framing of the windows. I have to say I was impressed by this addition.

Here is a photo I took:

[okinawatyphoon]

Thanks for the update and photo, valpopal! It certainly seems like a wonderful addition to campus, and I hope the university continues with that style. 

One question that comes to mind: Where are the residents of this dorm supposed to park? Even before, it was difficult to park in that area.....maybe more students will park on the parking lots near the Softball field?

[okinawatyphoon]

Beacon Hall is now open to students, and the NWI Times had a great article about it along with some great pictures. http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/porter/valparaiso/vu-opens-new-residence-hall/article_a725f799-ffb2-516b-8fcc-3292ff43245a.html Below is an image from the article, credit Jon L Hendricks:

[VULB#62]

Thanks for posting the link.  No mention is made of dining facilities, so I guess we can assume that residents go to other dining facilities on campus for meals -- it's only a short walk to the Union, right?

[valpopal]

Some of the athletes are already in Beacon Hall and seem to love it.

[Valpo2010]

Thanks for posting the link.  No mention is made of dining facilities, so I guess we can assume that residents go to other dining facilities on campus for meals -- it's only a short walk to the Union, right?

When the new union was opened all dining services were consolidated to the union.  There are no longer cafeterias in any of the dorms.

[bbtds]

Thanks for posting the link.  No mention is made of dining facilities, so I guess we can assume that residents go to other dining facilities on campus for meals -- it's only a short walk to the Union, right?

When the new union was opened all dining services were consolidated to the union.  There are no longer cafeterias in any of the dorms.

Weren't there only 2 dining halls open when they closed the old union? The old union and one of the twin dorms?