A low silt fence between Transylvania University’s Forrer Hall and North Broadway is a small sign of big changes to come.
Installed at the beginning of winter break, the fence will stop soil runoff as crews take down the 60-year-old residence hall to make way for a new $29.6 million Campus Center, which will feature event spaces, dining facilities, exercise rooms and more.
Demolition of Forrer is scheduled to begin Dec. 28 and take two months to complete.
Also part of the project will be renovations to the existing William T. Young Campus Center, most of which will remain open until next summer—when everything except the pool will close.
The new Campus Center is expected to open by fall of 2020.
Until then, the university will make accommodations to ease the transition. “We understand this will be a change for people, and we want to make it as pleasant as possible,” said Marc Mathews, vice president for finance and business.
Because Transy’s main dining hall was in Forrer, the Rafskeller will be expanded with three additional dining rooms by the time students return Jan. 7. This will provide more seating than the previous dining hall offered.
Also, Jazzman’s Cafe will add more grab and go options; two pop-up restaurants will be set up each week at various locations around campus; and outdoor seating will remain in Alumni Plaza over winter. “So if we have a nice day in February, you can sit out there and have lunch,” Mathews said.
When the new Campus Center opens, it will include Transy’s main dining facility—the Great Hall—which will seat up to 450 and remain open 24/7 as a place for students to gather. Additionally, the new building will feature a cafe and outdoor terrace seating.
Check out the renderings of the university’s future Campus Center, and get more details about the project here.