Texas State plans to construct a new dormitory called Hilltop Housing Complex to replace Burleson and Hornsby Halls, which are being demolished. The project is expected to be completed by summer 2021.
The current total project cost is $87.4 million based on a design for 836 beds, according to Finance and Support Services. The project cost according to the capital improvements program could reach up to $132,252,870. The project is still in the design development phase and construction is expected to start in June 2019 and be completed by July 2021.
Director of the Department Housing and Residential Life Roseanne Proite said planning began last year with every room having its own design page. The halls will be mostly double occupancy rooms, and Proite said DHRL is trying to keep the rooms as affordable as possible.
“A little over a year ago, we began all the earnest planning. We developed a program statement for what we wanted to do for the replacement of those two buildings. A program statement is a description of what we want to put there in terms of architectural room types,” Proite said. “We then went through the process of hiring an architectural firm and we’ve been working with them for about 10 months.”
Proite also said the Department of Housing and Residential Life will be financing the construction without funding from the university.
“We have to take a loan out. We’re a self-funded operation of the university, so that means the department of housing receives no money from the university or the state of Texas,” Proite said. “All the money we get is from students who live on campus. When we go to build a building we usually take out a 30-year loan.”
Nancy Nusbaum, associate vice president for finance and support services, said future construction is currently on hold and the university is requesting private developers.
“The project will be put on hold partly because of different projects. We have a STEM building that we’re programming at this time, and we also have another house processions building at Round Rock that we’re programming.”
Jordan Stevenson, theater sophomore who lives at Bobcat Village, said he probably wouldn’t move into the new dorms but it’s good for freshmen.
“I think it’ll be good for new freshman because I feel like there’s not a lot of housing options, and I feel like it’s in a really good spot to have a new dorm,” Stevenson said. “I think it’ll benefit them because it’s right near central campus and it’ll be a new fancier dorm, and they won’t have to live in an older dorm that’s farther away.”