Butler set to build new parking, housing facilities

INDIANAPOLIS -

Butler University is undergoing a $60 million expansion. Thursday evening, the university will break ground on a new five-story, 1,038-space parking garage. It will be built on what was a parking lot just north of Clowes Hall.

Next spring, construction will begin on what Butler touts as a "state-of-art student housing facility with approximately 600 modern, suite-style beds."

Butler President James Danko said the expansion and upgrades are meant to keep the university competitive.

"We want our community space, our living space to really support the notion of a strong community," Danko said. "More contemporary housing does a much better job in terms of pod living and shared space, so students can be educated both inside and outside the classroom."

Christina Saenger, a senior who lives in Schwitzer Hall her freshman year said, "that's good. I think it needs to happen...obviously (Schwitzer) is very old."

The residence hall, built in 1955, is very much the traditional dorm with small, minimalist two-bunk rooms and shared bathrooms. It's the one student living space that doesn't have air conditioning.

Emma Dolphin, also a senior, said keeping current is important.

"I think of lot of other universities, especially liberal arts schools, are upping the quality of their living situations, even for freshman," Dolphin said.

The two students also say there's a desperate need for the new parking garage.

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Butler set to build new parking, housing facilities