The end of an era.
Audiences gathered at several locations on the Troy University campus Friday afternoon to watch as the demolition of the Alumni Hall began. However, the aging men’s dormitory didn’t give way easily and took punch after punch on the chin.
Greg Price, Troy University’s chief technology officer, laughingly said taking down Alumni Hall is not a challenge he would want to face.
“It’s not going without resistance,” he said.
Price explained that the demolition process includes a constant spray of water to keep the dust down.
The area surrounding Alumni Hall has been closed and is being closely monitored to prevent unauthorized entrance into the work area.
The demolition of Alumni Hall, which was built in 1966, will make way for a new state-of-the-art facility that will house 428 students. The new facility will have 280 single-bed suites, 68 double occupancy suites and 12 handicapped suites. The entire project is estimated to cost $15.6 million, including $500 000 in technology.
“Our new Alumni Hall will be equipped with the very latest in high-technology amenities that can be used for both academic study and recreation,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., chancellor. “We will never build another traditional-style dormitory at Troy University because we have learned that our students respond to residence halls that could be more accurately called ‘learning communities’.”
In addition to the residential rooms, Alumni Hall includes 1,400 square feet of common areas, 2,600 square feet of safe space that doubles as class and meeting rooms, a convenience store, technology areas, laundry areas and study rooms.
The new men’s residential facility is scheduled for completion by August 2015.