Construction will begin in December on two projects at Elon University's Danieley Center residential neighborhood and on an addition for the Department of Music at the Arts West building.
The projects were approved by the board of trustees at its Oct. 23-25 meeting, and the buildings are projected to be completed for the opening of the 2015-16 academic year.
As part of the Elon Commitment strategic plan initiatives to transform the residential campus, a 14,850-square-foot multipurpose recreation facility will be built on the north edge of the Danieley Center neighborhood between University Drive and the residence halls. The building will feature a gymnasium with a wood floor for intramural activities and campus-wide student events. There will also be a 1,200-square-foot fitness center, two offices and a catering kitchen.
Nearby, a 4,000-square-foot addition will be constructed to the east side of Violet Hoffman Daniel Commons Building. The new construction will add a large gathering/meeting room, five offices and a demonstration kitchen. In the existing Daniel Commons, an office pod will be replaced with an Einstein Bros. Bagels restaurant, which will join the Qdoba Mexican Grill. The newly configured Daniel Commons will include an outdoor patio.
“These new additions will greatly enhance Danieley Center and the entire campus, providing new dining, gathering and fitness opportunities for the 700 students who live in that neighborhood, as well as a large student activities/recreation space for the student body,” said Smith Jackson, vice president for student life and dean of students. “While Elon builds and plans for new housing on campus, it is important that we continue to invest in our existing residential neighborhoods and student spaces, providing additional opportunities for students to interact with one another and integrate academics with their residential and out-of-class experiences.”
On the west side of campus, a renovation and construction project will provide 10,750 square feet of space in the Arts West building for Elon’s growing music production and recording arts program. Spaces in the building formerly occupied by the print shop and library storage will be renovated, and an expansion will be added to the east side of the building behind the new Scott Studios. The new facilities will include two recording studios with a large ensemble recording room and two isolation recording rooms, a music tech classroom with a recording isolation room, a seminar room, a classroom, three practice rooms, a small ensemble room and 11 offices.
“These outstanding new music facilities will provide our talented faculty and nearly 60 student majors with a professional environment and the latest technologies,” said Steven House, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “The recording studios and specialized learning spaces will support our engaged approach to learning and enable our students to prepare for success in a wide range of music production and performance careers.”